compromise

American  

[kom-pruh-mahyz] / ˈkɒm prəˌmaɪz /

noun

compromises plural

1. a settlement of differences by mutual concessions; an agreement reached by adjustment of conflicting or opposing claims, principles, etc., by reciprocal modification of demands.

2. the result of such a settlement.

3. something intermediate between different things.

   The split-level is a compromise between a ranch house and a multistoried house.

4. an endangering, especially of reputation; exposure to danger, suspicion, etc..

   a compromise of one's integrity.

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verb (used with object)

compromises, present (3rd person singular) compromised, past participle, past compromising present participle

1. to settle by a compromise.

2. to expose or make vulnerable to danger, suspicion, scandal, etc.; jeopardize.

   a military oversight that compromised the nation's defenses.

3. Obsolete.

   1. to bind by bargain or agreement.

   2. to bring to terms.

verb (used without object)

compromises, present (3rd person singular) compromised, past participle, past compromising present participle

1. to make a compromise or compromises.

   The conflicting parties agreed to compromise.

2. to make a dishonorable or shameful concession.

   He is too honorable to compromise with his principles.

compromise British  

/ ˈkɒmprəˌmaɪz /

noun

1. settlement of a dispute by concessions on both or all sides

2. the terms of such a settlement

3. something midway between two or more different things

4. an exposure of one's good name, reputation, etc, to injury

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verb

1. to settle (a dispute) by making concessions

2. (tr) to expose (a person or persons) to disrepute

3. (tr) to prejudice unfavourably; weaken

   his behaviour compromised his chances

4. obsolete (tr) to pledge mutually

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• compromiser
  noun
• compromissary
  adjective
• noncompromising
  adjective
• procompromise
  adjective
• quasi-compromising
  adjective
• compromisingly
  adverb
• quasi-compromisingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• compromises
  plural

Participles

• compromising
  present
• compromised
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• compromise
  simple
• compromises
  simple
• have compromised
  perfect
• has compromised
  perfect
• am compromising
  progressive
• are compromising
  progressive
• is compromising
  progressive
• have been compromising
  perfect progressive
• has been compromising
  perfect progressive

Past

• compromised
  simple
• had compromised
  perfect
• was compromising
  progressive
• were compromising
  progressive
• had been compromising
  perfect progressive

Future

• will compromise
  simple
• will have compromised
  perfect
• will be compromising
  progressive
• will have been compromising
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

compromise compromises compromised compromising

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

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

Massing says "there is no compromise when it comes to the integrity of the sport" and adds that "player welfare is absolutely fundamental" when organising half-time shows.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

A deal Sam conveniently ignored whenever he felt like it, and their mother, who brokered the compromise in the first place, always let Sam get away with it.

From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau

“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

Childbirth presents one of the most profound evolutionary compromises.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

Ribs and briskets will still take hours to make—and won’t have the full smoke flavor of a traditional setup—but for the average home cook, the compromises may be worth it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

We would have to learn to co-operate with each other—to make compromises.

From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler

The proposal follows an OpenAI disclosure that two of its AI models escaped a testing environment and compromised systems at Hugging Face.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 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

The programme heard from former senior police officers and politicians who spoke about behaviour they described as hypocritical and which put Donaldson in danger of being compromised by his political opponents.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 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

Possibly she wants to be a painter, and thinks I have compromised my principles, knuckled under to success.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

"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

Is it worth compromising our retirement goals to pay for a prestigious undergraduate education that may not deliver enough additional value?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026

For her, "If entertainment attracts new fans without compromising the football itself then it is a positive thing."

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

In short, Becket is where men and women representing a variety of strong religious beliefs find common ground without compromising their principles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

He stayed locked in his work, for the most part undaunted, riding out the bumps and compromising where he could, clinging to the sober-minded, someone’s-gotta-take-this-on brand of optimism that had always guided him.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• accommodation
• accord
• adjustment
• arrangement
• bargain
• concession
• deal
• pact
• settlement
• understanding