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compliance

kum-PLY-unss /kəmˈplaɪəns/

nounC1GMATCATUPSC

formalbusiness

The action or fact of complying with a wish or command; in business, meeting the requirements of laws and regulations.

Compliance is often seen as the 'floor' of CSR—the minimum legal requirement—while ethics and stewardship are the 'ceiling.'

The story behind the word. From the Latin 'complere', meaning 'to fill up.' It suggests that when you comply with a rule, you are 'filling up' the requirements or completing the obligation set before you.

Word relationships

adherence: The act of sticking to a rule or belief.
conformity: Compliance with standards, rules, or laws; often has a negative connotation of 'following the crowd.'

defiance: Open resistance; bold disobedience.
violation: The act of breaking a law or failing to follow a rule.

Commonly confused with

allegiance: Allegiance is loyalty to a person or cause; compliance is following a rule.

Word family

compliant (adjective): Meeting or in accordance with rules or standards.
comply (verb): To act in accordance with a wish or command.

Collocations

regulatory compliance
in compliance with
compliance officer
ensure compliance

Example sentences

"Compliance is not a substitute for ethics." A common legal adage regarding the limits of law.
"The company hired a new officer to oversee compliance with the increasingly complex environmental regulations." The factory had to undergo a rigorous audit to ensure it was following safety protocols.

Memory hook

Think of 'Comply' as 'Complete-the-Ply' (the layers of rules). You must finish every layer to be in compliance. Following the rules to the letter.

When not to use

Don't use 'compliance' to describe someone being 'nice' or 'agreeable' in a casual setting; use 'agreeability.'

Fun facts

In the medical world, 'compliance' refers to a patient correctly following a doctor's prescribed treatment plan.