compatibility

American  

[kuhm-pat-uh-bil-i-tee] / kəmˌpæt əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the natural ability to live or work together in harmony because of well-matched characteristics.

   In earlier times, love and compatibility were not the main considerations in finding a suitable spouse.

2. the quality or fact of being in agreement; consistency.

   Her essay questions the presumed compatibility of capitalism and democracy.

3. Computers. the ability to be used with a certain operating system or piece of hardware or software without the need for special adaptations.

   Before installing the application, check the compatibility of your device.

4. the ability to function or be integrated with other parts of any system, whether biological or technical.

   Terasaki devised the first tissue-typing method to assess the compatibility of organ donors and recipients.

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Etymology

Origin of compatibility

First recorded in 1605–15; equivalent to Medieval Latin compatibili(s) + Latin -tās; compatible ( def. ), -ty ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

In the casting process, I’m always very aware of social compatibility.

From Los Angeles Times

Citi analyst Michael Rollins wrote that the broader set of bidders could make the auction more competitive, “especially given the compatibility of this spectrum with a broad diversity of devices and current wireless networks.”

From Barron's

Commercial nail polishes were used to test additives for formula compatibility and electrical performance.

From Science Daily

This method delivers low optical loss, stable performance, and compatibility with existing fiber-optic systems, all of which are important for moving quantum technologies beyond lab experiments.

From Science Daily

That letter had caused a domino effect of events that pitted Regan against me in a simulation test that just so happened to also be testing for compatibility for the partner program.

From Literature

Related Words

• rapport
• unity