Difference Wiki

Complex vs. Building: What's the Difference?

Edited by Sumera Saeed || By Sawaira Riaz || Updated on September 29, 2023
A complex is a group of buildings with a common purpose, while a building is a single constructed structure.

Key Differences

The terms Complex and Building refer to man-made structures but in varying scopes. A complex denotes a cluster of buildings that are located together, typically serving a shared purpose or function. It could be a residential complex, a commercial complex, or an industrial complex, emphasizing a collective and multifunctional aspect. A building, however, refers to a single structure constructed for residential, commercial, industrial, or other purposes, and it stands as an independent entity, possibly part of a complex.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
Examining a complex, one would observe multiple buildings, structures, or units gathered in one location, sharing common elements or purposes. This could include a series of structures united by design, function, or ownership, offering diversity within unity. On the contrary, when examining a building, the focus is on an individual structure, its design, purpose, and construction, without necessarily considering its relation to other structures, highlighting its singular and independent existence.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
The concept of a complex suggests a greater level of organization, coordination, and planning, reflecting the integration of various elements or structures for a cohesive purpose. It may involve intricate designs and detailed planning to ensure that the individual buildings within it serve the intended functions efficiently. A building does not demand such intricate coordination with other structures; its design and construction are mainly centered around its individual purpose, although it can be meticulously planned and designed.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
In real estate and architecture, a complex might be referred to when discussing multiple buildings located together, maybe for a specific community or a shared commercial interest. This emphasizes communal or shared elements and can be seen in apartment complexes or business complexes. A building, however, is usually discussed in singular terms, emphasizing its standalone structure, be it a house, an office building, or a skyscraper, highlighting individuality and specificity.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Comparison Chart

Definition

A group of buildings with a common purpose.
A single constructed structure.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Scale

Larger, includes multiple buildings or structures
Singular, one structure.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Functionality

Multifunctional, serves varied purposes.
Specific to its intended use.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Planning

Requires coordinated and integrated planning.
Focused on individual design.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Relationship

Represents a collective relationship of units.
Stands as an independent entity.
Harlon Moss
Sep 22, 2023

Complex and Building Definitions

Complex

A group of related buildings within a defined area.
The apartment complex houses over a hundred families.
Sara Rehman
Sep 22, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Building

The act or process of constructing.
Building a house requires significant investment.
Sara Rehman
Sep 22, 2023

Complex

A psychological condition in which related mental factors are collectively considered.
He has an inferiority complex.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Building

Creating something by assembling various parts.
Building a strong team is crucial for success.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Complex

An area housing a particular function or group.
The sports complex includes multiple playing fields.
Janet White
Sep 22, 2023

Building

A standalone structure with a roof and walls.
The office building is located downtown.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Complex

Consisting of interconnected or interwoven parts; composite
Complex equipment with multiple components.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

A constructed edifice designed to stand more or less permanently.
The building has twenty floors.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 22, 2023

Complex

Composed of two or more units
A complex carbohydrate.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

A place enclosed within walls and roof.
The fire damaged the entire building.
Harlon Moss
Sep 22, 2023

Complex

Difficult to understand for being intricate or involved; complicated
A complex problem.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

Something that is built, as for human habitation; a structure.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

Consisting of at least one bound form. Used of a word.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

The act, process, art, or occupation of constructing.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

Consisting of an independent clause and at least one other independent or dependent clause. Used of a sentence.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

(uncountable) The act or process by which something is built; construction.
The building of the bridge will be completed in a couple of weeks.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

A whole composed of interconnected or interwoven parts
A complex of cities and suburbs.
The military-industrial complex.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

(countable) A closed structure with walls and a roof.
My sister lives in that apartment building.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

A building or group of buildings used for a single purpose
A sports complex.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

Present participle of build
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

In psychoanalysis, a group of related, often repressed ideas and impulses that compel characteristic or habitual patterns of thought, feelings, and behavior.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

The act of constructing, erecting, or establishing.
Hence it is that the building of our Sion rises no faster.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

An exaggerated or obsessive concern or fear
Has a complex about his weight.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

The art of constructing edifices, or the practice of civil architecture.
The execution of works of architecture necessarily includes building; but building is frequently employed when the result is not architectural.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

(Medicine) The combination of factors, symptoms, or signs of a disease or disorder that forms a syndrome.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

That which is built; a fabric or edifice constructed, as a house, a church, etc.
Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife's attireHave cost a mass of public treasury.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

Made up of multiple parts; composite; not simple.
A complex being; a complex idea
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

A structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place;
There was a three-story building on the corner
It was an imposing edifice
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

Not simple, easy, or straightforward; complicated.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

The act of constructing or building something;
During the construction we had to take a detour
His hobby was the building of boats
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

Having the form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i is (by definition) the imaginary square root of −1.
Complex number
Function of a complex variable
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

The commercial activity involved in constructing buildings;
Their main business is home construction
Workers in the building trades
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

Whose range is a subset of the complex numbers.
Complex function
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Building

The occupants of a building;
The entire building complained about the noise
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

Whose coefficients are complex numbers; defined over the field of complex numbers.
Complex polynomial
Complex algebraic variety
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

(geometry) A curve, polygon or other figure that crosses or intersects itself.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

A problem. en
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

A network of interconnected systems.
Military-industrial complex
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

A collection of buildings with a common purpose, such as a university or military base.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

An assemblage of related things; a collection.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

An organized cluster of thunderstorms.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

A cluster of wildfires burning in the same vicinity.
The fire complex began as two separate fires.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

(taxonomy) A group of closely related species, often distinguished only with difficulty by traditional morphological methods.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

(psychoanalysis) An abnormal mental condition caused by repressed emotions.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

A vehement, often excessive psychological dislike or fear of a particular thing.
Jim has a real complex about working for a woman boss.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

(chemistry) A structure consisting of a central atom or molecule weakly connected to surrounding atoms or molecules, as for example coordination complexes in inorganic chemistry and protein complexes in biochemistry.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

(math) A complex number.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

(linguistics) A multimorphemic word, one with several parts, one with affixes.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

To form a complex with another substance
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

(transitive) To complicate.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

Composed of two or more parts; composite; not simple; as, a complex being; a complex idea.
Ideas thus made up of several simple ones put together, I call complex; such as beauty, gratitude, a man, an army, the universe.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

Involving many parts; complicated; intricate.
When the actual motions of the heavens are calculated in the best possible way, the process is difficult and complex.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

Assemblage of related things; collection; complication.
This parable of the wedding supper comprehends in it the whole complex of all the blessings and privileges exhibited by the gospel.
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

A conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts;
The complex of shopping malls, houses, and roads created a new town
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

A compound described in terms of the central atom to which other atoms are bound or coordinated
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

(psychoanalysis) a combination of emotions and impulses that have been rejected from awareness but still influence a person's behavior
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

A whole structure (as a building) made up of interconnected or related structures
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

Complicated in structure; consisting of interconnected parts;
A complex set of variations based on a simple folk melody
A complex mass of diverse laws and customs
Sawaira Riaz
Apr 23, 2023

Complex

A system of interconnected elements or components.
The human brain is an incredibly complex organ.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 22, 2023

Complex

Composed of many interconnected or intricate parts.
The complex machinery requires careful handling.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

FAQs

Can any standalone structure be called a building?

Yes, any standalone structure with walls and a roof can typically be referred to as a building.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Can a complex contain only one building?

Typically, a complex refers to multiple buildings, but it could theoretically refer to a single structure with multiple, diverse functions.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Does the term "complex" always refer to buildings?

No, "complex" can also refer to a system of interconnected elements or a psychological condition.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Are complexes always large?

While complexes are often large due to housing multiple structures, they can vary in size.
Sara Rehman
Sep 22, 2023

Can a complex serve multiple purposes?

Yes, a complex can serve multiple purposes, housing different functions within its various structures.
Harlon Moss
Sep 22, 2023

Can a complex be solely residential?

Yes, complexes can be residential, housing multiple dwellings within.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 22, 2023

Is every building part of a complex?

No, many buildings stand alone and are not part of any complex.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Is the construction process of a building simpler than a complex?

Generally, yes. Constructing a building is usually less intricate compared to planning and constructing a complex.
Harlon Moss
Sep 22, 2023

Does a complex require more maintenance than a building?

Typically, yes. A complex usually requires more extensive maintenance due to its multiple structures and functions.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 22, 2023

Is the concept of a complex older than that of a building?

No, the concept of a building is likely older, as complexes are collections of buildings.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 22, 2023

Can a building exist within a complex?

Yes, complexes typically consist of multiple buildings.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Are all buildings constructed for permanent use?

While buildings are generally constructed for permanence, some are designed for temporary use.
Sara Rehman
Sep 22, 2023

Can a building have multiple functions?

Yes, a building can have multiple functions, with different sections serving different purposes.
Sawaira Riaz
Sep 22, 2023

Are residential buildings always part of residential complexes?

No, residential buildings can exist independently or as part of residential complexes.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 22, 2023

Can a building change its function over time?

Yes, buildings can be repurposed and adapt to new functions over time.
Aimie Carlson
Sep 22, 2023
About Author
Written by
Sawaira Riaz
Sawaira is a dedicated content editor at difference.wiki, where she meticulously refines articles to ensure clarity and accuracy. With a keen eye for detail, she upholds the site's commitment to delivering insightful and precise content.
Edited by
Sumera Saeed
Sumera is an experienced content writer and editor with a niche in comparative analysis. At Diffeence Wiki, she crafts clear and unbiased comparisons to guide readers in making informed decisions. With a dedication to thorough research and quality, Sumera's work stands out in the digital realm. Off the clock, she enjoys reading and exploring diverse cultures.

Trending Comparisons

Popular Comparisons

New Comparisons