1. The most serious or substantial part of a complaint, accusation, or grievance; the crux or main point of contention.
Usage: formal; often used in legal contexts

Examples

• The gravamen of the plaintiff's lawsuit was that the company had violated the contract terms.
• The gravamen of her complaint centered on unfair treatment in the workplace.
• The judge identified the gravamen of the dispute as a disagreement over property boundaries.
• His gravamen against the policy was that it disproportionately affected low-income families.
• The gravamen of the appeal rested on a single procedural error made during the trial.
• Despite numerous minor issues, the gravamen of the matter was the breach of trust between the parties.