Graphical Abstract A dysprosium complex was synthesized from tri-ethanolamine and benzoic acid and was characterized through various physical techniques such as infrared, magnetic studies and single crystal X-ray crystallography. Small value of coercivity indicates that it is a soft ferromagnetic material and can resist with external magnetic field without becoming demagnetized. Keywords Dysprosium complex · Tri-ethanolamine · Benzoic acid · Magnetic measurement Abstract A dysprosium complex,[Dy2 (TEA)2(O2CPh)4·2H2O] has been synthesized using TEA (tri-ethanolamine) and benzoic acid. The obtained complex is a dimer in which both of the TEA is linked with two dysprosium ions through the protonated oxygen atoms and the resultant molecule is Centro symmetric. The nature of bonding and structure of the synthesized dimer was explored from infrared, magnetic studies and single crystal X-ray crystallographic technique. The crystal structure of the complex has triclinic crystal system and P-1 space group. Unit cell parameters are: a = 10.0931(4) Å, b = 10.8841(5) Å, c = 10.9441(5) Å, and α = 73.915(2)°, β = 74.833(2)°, γ = 67.764(2)°, V = 1052.54(8) Å3, Dx = 1.801 Mg/m3 and Mr = 1141.84. The complex possesses small value of coercivity which indicates that it is a soft ferromagnetic material and can resist with external magnetic field without becoming demagnetized.