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

“What about personality compatibility? You have to take that into account too, right?”

From Literature

But a presentation by AI company Anthropic emphasising the compatibility of its technology with existing programmes tempered some fears, analysts said.

From Barron's

That compatibility makes Venezuelan barrels commercially attractive to U.S. refiners.

From MarketWatch

In his work, the University of California Davis psychology professor offers a dating and relationships alternative in which compatibility trumps all.

From Los Angeles Times

The infrastructure that let previous generations test compatibility through behavior is gone.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• rapport
• unity