compliance

noun

com·​pli·​ance kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s How to pronounce compliance (audio)
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

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 If you’re drawn to deep dives into tax planning and ensuring compliance, becoming a tax strategist might suit you. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Data protections for Americans are piecemeal, and compliance with the complex federal and state data privacy laws can be costly for industry. Carlos Ignacio Gutierrez, IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2024 Other duties include examining and evaluating department activities in compliance, along with collaborating with other state agencies. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024 And then there might be layoffs in trust and safety, but one place where Google has been maybe beefing up a little bit is in compliance, which is adjacent. Michael Calore Lauren Goode, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2024 The compliance costs of federal disclosure requirements have been estimated to be substantial. Sehoon Kim, The Conversation, 6 Mar. 2024 Of course, the update is also notable for rolling out Apple’s compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act, including support for third-party app stores. Jon Porter, The Verge, 6 Mar. 2024 The man was in compliance, and he was left in his tent. Tracy Neal, arkansasonline.com, 5 Mar. 2024 This loss of deposits, coupled with the increasing cost of compliance and insurance for CRE lenders due to regulatory pressure, could lead to more bank failures. Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compliance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

comply + -ance

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 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

compliance

noun
com·​pli·​ance kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s How to pronounce compliance (audio)
1
: the act or process of complying
2
: a readiness or willingness to yield to others

Medical Definition

compliance

noun
com·​pli·​ance kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s How to pronounce compliance (audio)
1
: the ability or process of yielding to changes in pressure without disruption of structure or function
a study of pulmonary compliance
the tone of colonic muscle as judged by compliance of the gut wallS. C. Truelove
2
: the process of complying with a regimen of treatment
simplified drug regimens may encourage better compliance

Legal Definition

compliance

noun
com·​pli·​ance kəm-ˈplī-əns How to pronounce compliance (audio)
1
: an act or process of complying with a demand or recommendation
2
: observance of official requirements

More from Merriam-Webster on compliance

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