compromise
Americannoun
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a settlement of differences by mutual concessions; an agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims, principles, etc., by reciprocal modification of demands.
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the result of such a settlement.
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something intermediate between different things.
The split-level is a compromise between a ranch house and a multistoried house.
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an endangering, especially of reputation; exposure to danger, suspicion, etc..
a compromise of one's integrity.
verb (used with object)
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to settle by a compromise.
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to expose or make vulnerable to danger, suspicion, scandal, etc.; jeopardize.
a military oversight that compromised the nation's defenses.
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Obsolete.
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to bind by bargain or agreement.
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to bring to terms.
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verb (used without object)
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to make a compromise or compromises.
The conflicting parties agreed to compromise.
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to make a dishonorable or shameful concession.
He is too honorable to compromise with his principles.
noun
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settlement of a dispute by concessions on both or all sides
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the terms of such a settlement
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something midway between two or more different things
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an exposure of one's good name, reputation, etc, to injury
verb
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to settle (a dispute) by making concessions
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(tr) to expose (a person or persons) to disrepute
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(tr) to prejudice unfavourably; weaken
his behaviour compromised his chances
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obsolete (tr) to pledge mutually
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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compromisernoun
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compromissaryadjective
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noncompromisingadjective
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procompromiseadjective
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quasi-compromisingadjective
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compromisinglyadverb
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quasi-compromisinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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compromisesimple
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compromisessimple
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have compromisedperfect
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has compromisedperfect
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am compromisingprogressive
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are compromisingprogressive
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is compromisingprogressive
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have been compromisingperfect progressive
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has been compromisingperfect progressive
Past
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compromisedsimple
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had compromisedperfect
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was compromisingprogressive
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were compromisingprogressive
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had been compromisingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of compromise
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Anglo-French compromisse, Middle French compromis, from Latin comprōmissum; equivalent to com- + promise
Explanation
A compromise is a way of settling differences by everybody making concessions. If you want to stay out until 10 and your friend wants to stay out until midnight, 11 is a good compromise. Compromise comes from the Latin compromissum, which means "mutual promise." It can be a noun or a verb. If you compromise with your lab partner over how to analyze the experimental data, you find the middle ground between your two ideas. Compromise can also mean to erode or diminish. If you never repair your brakes, you will compromise the safety of the car. If you cheat, you compromise your integrity.
Vocabulary lists containing compromise
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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.
See Examples For:
Andrew Bishop’s base case remains that a face-saving compromise will be achieved by the U.S. and Iran.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
"I had to make sure I looked 10 out of 10, I couldn't compromise on that."
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Even if a compromise is found over the fate of the army chief, Fedorov's future remains a thorny question.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
The Mommy and Me class is a great compromise, says Foon, 49, who lives in Pasadena.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Early Tuesday morning, King met privately with an official from the Justice Department who proposed a token march as a compromise.
From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman
“You become a little more willing to make compromises on things that you might not usually compromise on, just because you’re so tired of searching,” said Alyssa Tracy, one of Travis’ confidants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
“So I can only go by what he and the training staff are telling me. So, unless I hear otherwise, that hitting compromises his health, then I’m going to keep putting him in the lineup.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Identify the compromises you’re consciously choosing to make in pursuit of a lifestyle that’s a better fit.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Far from being a flawless machine, the body reads more like a patchwork of compromises shaped by millions of years of evolutionary tinkering.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
We’ve got to be reasonable about everything we do here: studying, listening, holding our tongues, helping others, being kind, making compromises and I don’t know what else!
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
After analyzing the attack, Hugging Face was able to expel the hacking AIs, reset its passwords and rebuild the compromised parts of its network.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
His failure to slow sufficiently for yellow flags in qualifying compromised his starting position, but recovering from seventh to the podium and holding off the Ferraris was an impressive response.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Intel’s guidance for a second-quarter gross margin of 39% represents a decline from the previous quarter, though the company attributed that performance to one-time “inventory benefits” from selling partially compromised chips.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
A handful of residential units were inundated, including a few where electricity had to be shut off because their electrical panels were compromised.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
“The compromised line. The leak in communications. We do not know where the leak is coming from, precisely,” he said.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Other sociologists say the impulse toward activism is compromising not only the aim and use of sociological research, but the quality of the research itself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
The specifics of what was leaked have not been released, but the Secret Service said their agent faced a "potential criminal inquiry", involving allegations of "compromising operational and information security".
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
"Europe should have access to the world’s most capable AI without compromising control over their data, operations or digital future," Microsoft President Brad Smith said in the statement.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
“DOGE,” as Elon Musk dubbed the entity, has come under fire from two other whistleblowers for mishandling data and compromising the Social Security numbers of every American.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026
We argue over how much breakfast I should eat, compromising at two eggs and some of the steak.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
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.
