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

The researchers describe this system as a "pseudo-organelle," a functional compartment that is not enclosed by a membrane but still plays a major role in organizing cell behavior.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 1, 2026

A one-way fare to North Korea cost roughly $150 to $215—the higher price granting passengers a softer bed and a door for their bunker compartment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026

The robots have four wheels and a bigger internal compartment for carrying food and goods .

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2026

The assistant principal dashed away and over to the ground near the entrance to the front office and pried a metal compartment in the wall open.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Once internal compartments are destroyed, proteins that were originally separated may come into contact in the laboratory.

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

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

These frozen meals were arranged in heat-and-serve aluminum trays with three compartments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026

Opening the jewelry box, she rummaged through the compartments of glittering pendants, brooches, and rings.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

Related Words

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