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.

AP: It sounds like compartmentalizing was a survival technique for you?

From Seattle Times

Rather than compartmentalize the discussion of slavery or leave it to contemporary artists to create new visual narratives, it used deep research and dispassionate narrative to reinterpret its legacy collections.

From Washington Post

First, it demonstrates that Russia is increasingly unwilling to compartmentalize elements of its relations with the United States.

From Los Angeles Times

“I used to feel like I really had to compartmentalize a lot of my activism, but it also felt super important.” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

And I did have fun on it, but I’m not a good enough actor to compartmentalize.

From Washington Post

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