Definition of COMPLIANCE (original) (raw)
1
a
: the act or process of complying to a desire, demand, proposal, or regimen or to coercion
Patient compliance in completing the treatment regimens was excellent.—
Georgia A. Chrousos
b
: conformity in fulfilling official requirements
His actions were in compliance with state law.
2
: a disposition to yield to others
3
: the ability of an object to yield elastically when a force is applied : flexibility
Synonyms
Examples of compliance in a Sentence
She was rewarded for her compliance. There has been a low rate of compliance with the new law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Also at play: the imposition of conditions for approval of the transferal of the licenses, including commitment to promote viewpoint diversity and being placed on probation until compliance is evident. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Feb. 2025 The filing also notes the company's compliance with regulatory requirements, including maintaining asset coverage ratios and adhering to RIC tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2025 Specifically, the government argued that FinCEN intends to extend the compliance deadline. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2025 Davi Ottenheimer, a longtime security operations and compliance manager, says many factors about Coristine’s employment history and online footprint could raise questions about his ability to obtain security clearance. —Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for compliance 
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of compliance was circa 1630
Dictionary Entries Near compliance
Cite this Entry
“Compliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compliance. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 11 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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