compartmentalize

American  

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

especially British, compartmentalise

verb (used with object)

compartmentalized, compartmentalizing

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

   Instead of compartmentalizing tasks, employees can be trained broadly.

2. 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.

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compartmentalize British  

/ ˌkɒmpɑːtˈmɛntəˌlaɪz /

verb

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

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Other Word Forms

• compartmentalization
  noun
• decompartmentalize
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of compartmentalize

First recorded in 1920–25; compartmental + -ize

Explanation

When you separate something into smaller sections or categories, you compartmentalize it. Sometimes people compartmentalize their feelings in order to understand them better. Someone who compartmentalizes his own life tends to sort its different parts, keeping work life completely removed from recreation or family life, for example. A college student might find that a good way to prepare for a history exam is to compartmentalize each decade and study them separately. The verb compartmentalize comes from the noun compartment, itself from the Old French compartiment, "part partitioned off," from the Late Latin compartiri, "to divide."

Example Sentences

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

Then, when she’s forced to look at it, she’s unable to because of how hard she’s worked to compartmentalize.

From Salon • Oct. 17, 2025

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

From Salon • Sep. 20, 2025

Have you figured out how to compartmentalize what you do with System of a Down and Scars on Broadway?

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 17, 2025

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

Related Words

• break up
• cut off
• insulate