compartmentalize

American

[kuhm-pahrt-men-tl-ahyz, kom-pahrt-] / kəm pɑrtˈmɛn tlˌaɪz, ˌkɒm pɑrt- /

especially British, compartmentalise

verb (used with object)

compartmentalized, compartmentalizing

to divide into separate and isolated categories, sections, areas, or compartments: compartment.

Instead of compartmentalizing tasks, employees can be trained broadly.
Psychology. to mentally separate or set aside (one’s incompatible or negative emotions, beliefs, or behaviors): Unfortunately, the experiences at work are not easily compartmentalized—they stay with the nurses and affect every aspect of their lives.

Ripley, a serial killer, has the capacity to compartmentalize his thoughts, push his conscience conveniently aside, in order to live with himself.
Unfortunately, the experiences at work are not easily compartmentalized—they stay with the nurses and affect every aspect of their lives.

compartmentalize British

/ ˌkɒmpɑːtˈmɛntəˌlaɪz /

verb

(usually tr) to put or divide into (compartments, categories, etc), esp to an excessive degree

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

compartmentalization noun
decompartmentalize verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of compartmentalize

First recorded in 1920–25; compartmental + -ize

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.

So I stopped trying to be my whole self everywhere, and gave myself permission to prioritize and compartmentalize.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

We compartmentalize this grief and outrage into the corners of our private lives.

From Salon • Sep. 20, 2025

It’s another thing to depict accurately the emotional toll, stresses, the need to juggle, compartmentalize, to code switch and do everything else that is asked of these people over the course of the day.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2025

So McVay and Rams executives will attempt to compartmentalize anxiety and relax before players report to Loyola Marymount for training camp on July 23.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2024

I’d been trained my entire life to compartmentalize, to give my entire focus to the situation at hand, and I leaned hard on the habits developed from years and years of study and work.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023