compartment

American  

[kuhm-pahrt-muhnt] / kəmˈpɑrt mənt /

noun

1. a part or space marked or partitioned off.

   Synonyms:

   section, division

2. a separate room, section, etc..

   a baggage compartment.

3. U.S. Railroads. a private bedroom with toilet facilities.

4. a separate aspect, function, or the like.

   the compartments of the human mind.

5. Architecture. a distinct major division of a design.

6. Heraldry. a decorative base, as a grassy mound, on which the supporters of an escutcheon stand or rest.

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verb (used with object)

1. to divide into compartments.

compartment British  

/ kəmˈpɑːtmənt, ˌkɒmpɑːtˈmɛntəl /

noun

1. one of the sections into which an area, esp an enclosed space, is divided or partitioned

2. any separate part or section

   a compartment of the mind

3. a small storage space; locker

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Other Word Forms

• compartmental adjective
• compartmentally adverb

Etymology

Origin of compartment

1555–65; < Middle French compartiment < Italian compartimento. See compart, -ment

Example Sentences

Hydrogen peroxide is abundant within the small compartment that houses the crystals, and the parasite naturally produces it as a byproduct.

From Science Daily • Mar. 19, 2026

But the graying signal caller still had something left in the glove compartment, and if you think I typed that while speaking in a stentorian John Facenda voice, I absolutely did.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

I stood as far back as I could in the snug compartment and grimaced my way through it.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

During flight, astronauts will be in a crew compartment near the top.

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2025

We found ourselves in a different compartment, where the water came up to my ankles and I had to crouch to avoid bumping my head on the upper deck.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Related Words

• alcove
• carriage
• cell
• chamber
• cubicle
• locker
• slot