compartment

American  

[kuhm-pahrt-muhnt] / kəmˈpɑrt mənt /

noun

compartments plural

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

Derived Forms

• compartmental
  adjective
• compartmentally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• compartments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of compartment

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

Explanation

A compartment is a space within another space, like the glove compartment in a car. Compartments are spaces, but they're not spaces that stand on their own. Rather, compartments are part of other spaces: they're subdivisions. The trunk is a compartment of a car. A pocket is a compartment of a suitcase. Closets are like compartments of rooms. One of the most common compartments is a car's glove compartment, where people throw all kinds of things. Anything that is divided into smaller spaces has compartments. The ventricles are like compartments of your heart.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

compartment compartments

In October, video was widely shared of flames belching from the overhead storage compartment of an Air China flight, reportedly caused by a lithium battery.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

Before long, crack Swanson engineers added a fourth compartment to the aluminum trays, for dessert.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026

Every cell of the deadly malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum contains a tiny compartment packed with microscopic iron crystals.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 19, 2026

The hypothesis is that the submarine suffered a valve failure that allowed water to enter the battery compartment, triggering a fire and then an explosion.

From Barron's ● Mar. 3, 2026

I picked up my backpack, and Eddie’s journal nearly fell out of the open compartment.

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

The second discovery involved paraspeckles, small droplet-like compartments located inside the cell nucleus.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026

A lot of Arasheben’s rings have James Bond elements such as secret compartments or special elements.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

Ryanair says power banks are not allowed in checked baggage, cannot go in overhead compartments, and must not be used to charge or power other portable electronic devices during taxi, take-off or landing.

From BBC ● May 24, 2026

Take, for example, the viral “snackle box,” which contains multiple compartments to hold everything from your favorite packaged snacks and candies to cut up fruit and vegetables.

From Salon ● May 17, 2026

They put their two beds into it and a few boxes to use as tables and storage compartments.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall

Related Words

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