compliant
kum-PLY-unt
/kəmˈplaɪənt/
Disposed to agree with others or obey rules; acquiescent; conforming to requirements.
Focuses on obedience, rule-following, or submissive yielding to authority; in regulatory contexts, means fulfilling official safety or legal standards.
The story behind the word. Derived from Italian 'compiacere' and Latin 'complere' (to fill up, complete, fulfill). To be compliant originally meant 'fulfilling the desires of another' or satisfying obligatory duties.
Word relationships
- obedient: Obedient stresses submission to authority, while compliant can also describe alignment with technical regulations or gentle willingness.
- tractable: Tractable emphasizes ease of handling or training, while compliant emphasizes active obedience to rules or requests.
- defiant: Defiant means openly resisting or challenging authority.
- noncompliant: Noncompliant means failing or refusing to conform to rules, orders, or legal standards.
Commonly confused with
- complaint: Compliant is an adjective meaning obedient; complaint is a noun meaning an expression of dissatisfaction.
Word family
- comply (verb): To act in accordance with a wish or command.
- compliance (noun): The action or fact of complying with a wish or command.
Collocations
- fully compliant
- compliant behavior
- regulatory compliant
- remained compliant
Idioms & expressions
- toe the line
- play by the rules
Example sentences
- "He found her compliant to his wishes, yielding gently to every reasonable suggestion he made." 19th-century gothic novel character description
- "The manufacturing plant was audited and found fully compliant with international environmental safety standards." Corporate regulatory auditing
Memory hook
COMPLIANT: COM-PLYing with rules to avoid conflict. Fulfilling orders and obeying rules willingly.
When not to use
Avoid using as a simple compliment for physical athletic grace; use supple or agile instead.
Fun facts
- In corporate law, 'chief compliance officers' ensure companies follow federal regulations—a multi-billion dollar global industry.
Related words
Explore more words
comply, compliance, submissive, Obedience, acquiesce, assent
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