complacence

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•pla•cen•cy /kəmˈpleɪsənsi/  also comˈpla•cence, n. [uncountable]

1. a feeling of security while unaware of unpleasant possibilities;
   self-satisfaction.

See -plac-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•pla•cen•cy  (kəm plā′sən sē), n., pl. -cies. 

1. a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.
2. [Archaic.]
   • friendly civility;
     inclination to please;
     complaisance.
   • a civil act.

Also, com•pla•cence  (kəm plā′səns). 

• Medieval Latin complacentia. See complacent, -cy
• 1635–45

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

complacency / kəmˈpleɪsənsɪ/, complacence noun ( -cencies, -cences)

1. a feeling of satisfaction, esp extreme self-satisfaction; smugness
2. an obsolete word for complaisance