What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
aggrievance
Example
She felt a deep aggrievance towards her boss for not promoting her. [aggrievance: noun]
Example
He was aggrieved by the company's decision to lay him off. [aggrieved: adjective]
grievance
Example
The union filed a grievance against the company for violating the terms of their contract. [grievance: noun]
Example
She had a legitimate grievance against her landlord for not fixing the leaky roof. [grievance: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Grievance is more commonly used than aggrievance in everyday language, especially in formal or legal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between aggrievance and grievance?
Grievance is more formal than aggrievance, and is commonly used in legal or workplace settings to refer to a formal complaint or protest. Aggrievance is less formal and may be used in more personal or informal contexts to describe a sense of personal injustice or unfairness.
