What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Summons vs Complaint - What's the difference?

summons | complaint |

In context|legal|lang=en terms the difference between summons and complaint

is that summons is (legal) a notice summoning someone to appear in court, as a defendant, juror or witness while complaint is (legal) in criminal law, the preliminary charge or accusation made by one person against another to the appropriate court or officer, usually a magistrate
however, court proceedings, such as a trial, cannot be instituted until an indictment or information has been handed down against the defendant.

As nouns the difference between summons and complaint

is that summons is a call to do something, especially to come while complaint is a grievance, problem, difficulty, or concern; the act of complaining.

As a verb summons

is to serve someone with a summons or summons can be (summon).

summons

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) sumunce (modern French semonce), from popular (etyl) .

Noun

(es)
  • A call to do something, especially to come.
  • * Hallam
    • special summonses by the king
  • * Bishop Fell
    • this summons unfit either to dispute or disobey
  • * Sir J. Hayward
    • He sent to summon the seditious, and to offer pardon; but neither summons nor pardon was regarded.
  • (legal) A notice summoning someone to appear in court, as a defendant, juror or witness.
  • (military) A demand for surrender.

    • Verb

    (es)
  • To serve someone with a summons.
  • * 2007', It proposes that those held in the prototype Selfridges cells be kept for a maximum of four hours to have their identity confirmed and be charged, '''summonsed or given a fine. — ''The Guardian , 15 Mar 2007, p. 1

    • See also

    * ("summons" on Wikipedia) *

    Etymology 2

    Inflected forms.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (summon)

    • complaint

    English

    (wikipedia complaint)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A grievance, problem, difficulty, or concern; the act of complaining.
    • I have no complaints about the quality of his work, but I don't enjoy his company.
  • (legal) In a civil action, the first pleading of the plaintiff setting out the facts on which the claim is based;
    The purpose is to give notice to the adversary of the nature and basis of the claim asserted.
  • (legal) In criminal law, the preliminary charge or accusation made by one person against another to the appropriate court or officer, usually a magistrate.
    However, court proceedings, such as a trial, cannot be instituted until an indictment or information has been handed down against the defendant.
  • A consumer complaint.
  • A bodily disorder or disease; the symptom of such a disorder.
    • Don't come too close, I've got this nasty complaint .

    Anagrams

    *