compartmentalize
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to divide into separate and isolated categories, sections, areas, or compartments.
Instead of compartmentalizing tasks, employees can be trained broadly.
-
Psychology. to mentally separate or set aside (one’s incompatible or negative emotions, beliefs, or behaviors): Unfortunately, the experiences at work are not easily compartmentalized—they stay with the nurses and affect every aspect of their lives.
Ripley, a serial killer, has the capacity to compartmentalize his thoughts, push his conscience conveniently aside, in order to live with himself.
Unfortunately, the experiences at work are not easily compartmentalized—they stay with the nurses and affect every aspect of their lives.
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have compartmentalizedperfect
-
has compartmentalizedperfect 3rd person singular
-
am compartmentalizingprogressive 1st person singular
-
are compartmentalizingprogressive
-
has been compartmentalizingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is compartmentalizingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been compartmentalizingperfect progressive
-
compartmentalizingparticiple
-
compartmentalizessingular 3rd person
Past
-
had compartmentalizedperfect
-
compartmentalizedparticiple
-
compartmentalizedsimple
-
were compartmentalizingprogressive plural
-
was compartmentalizingprogressive singular
-
had been compartmentalizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of compartmentalize
First recorded in 1920–25; compartmental + -ize
Explanation
When you separate something into smaller sections or categories, you compartmentalize it. Sometimes people compartmentalize their feelings in order to understand them better. Someone who compartmentalizes his own life tends to sort its different parts, keeping work life completely removed from recreation or family life, for example. A college student might find that a good way to prepare for a history exam is to compartmentalize each decade and study them separately. The verb compartmentalize comes from the noun compartment, itself from the Old French compartiment, "part partitioned off," from the Late Latin compartiri, "to divide."
Vocabulary lists containing compartmentalize
A Face for Picasso
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Words with 15 or More Letters, List 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Internment
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
So I stopped trying to be my whole self everywhere, and gave myself permission to prioritize and compartmentalize.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025
We compartmentalize this grief and outrage into the corners of our private lives.
From Salon • Sep. 20, 2025
When seismic events occur, part of the rational human response is to compartmentalize, even making light of the trauma.
From Salon • Jul. 28, 2025
It’s another thing to depict accurately the emotional toll, stresses, the need to juggle, compartmentalize, to code switch and do everything else that is asked of these people over the course of the day.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2025
My parents thought of the divorce as trading one piece of paper for another, and I try to compartmentalize it in the same way.
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
