Standard Lemma guide

compliant

adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /kəmˈplʌɪənt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /kəmˈplaɪənt/
  • rhymes with -aɪənt
  • CMU ARPABET: K AH0 M P L AY1 AH0 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Willing to comply; submissive; willing to do what someone wants.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The suspect was compliant when arrested.
  • Tendon is compliant compared to bone.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: yielding, bending, pliant, supple, conformable, amenable, biddable, complaisant, compliant, controllable, docile, governable, indulgent, manageable, maniable, meek, passive, rulable, tractable, bowsome, buxom, hearsome, morigerous, obedible, obedient, obsequent, obsequious, tall, toward

Antonyms: assertive, incompliant, non-compliant, noncompliant

2

adj

Meaning 2

Compatible with or following guidelines, specifications, rules, or laws.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The browser is standards-compliant.
  • The workplace is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: conformant, in line, commensurate, compatible, compliant, conformable, congruent, congruous, consistent, in step, proportionate, uniform

Antonyms: contradictory, incompliant, non-compliant, noncompliant

3

adj

Meaning 3

Deforming under pressure; yielding.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective

Meaning 4

disposed or willing to comply

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • children compliant with the parental will

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: defiant

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English comply Proto-Indo-European *-onts Latin -ns Latin -āns Old French -antbor. Proto-Indo-European *-onts Proto-Germanic *-ndz Proto-West Germanic *-andī Old English -ende Middle English -ant English -ant English compliant From comply + -ant.

Across languages

Translations

67 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: отстъпчив (otstǎpčiv) — willing to comply
  • Chinese Mandarin: 順從的 /顺从的 — willing to comply
  • Dutch: buigzaam — willing to comply
  • Dutch: medewerkend — willing to comply
  • Dutch: onderdanig — willing to comply
  • Finnish: myöntyväinen — willing to comply
  • Finnish: suostuvainen — willing to comply
  • Finnish: ei tehnyt vastarintaa (was compliant) — willing to comply
  • French: docile — willing to comply
  • French: obéissant — willing to comply
  • French: accommodant — willing to comply
  • German: entgegenkommend — willing to comply
  • German: fügsam — willing to comply
  • German: gefällig — willing to comply
  • German: gefügig — willing to comply
  • German: nachgiebig — willing to comply
  • Ancient Greek: εὐπειθής (eupeithḗs) — willing to comply
  • Indonesian: patuh — willing to comply
  • Irish: comhlíontach — willing to comply
  • Latin: obnoxius — willing to comply
  • Latin: mōrigerus — willing to comply
  • Latin: obsequiōsus — willing to comply
  • Māori: ngāwari — willing to comply
  • Māori: ngohe — willing to comply
  • Portuguese: cooperante — willing to comply
  • Romanian: cooperant — willing to comply
  • Romanian: maleabil — willing to comply
  • Russian: послу́шный (poslúšnyj) — willing to comply
  • Scots: bowsome — willing to comply
  • Slovak: poddajný — willing to comply
  • Slovak: povoľný — willing to comply
  • Slovak: poslušný — willing to comply
  • Spanish: cumplidor — willing to comply
  • Spanish: cumpliente — willing to comply
  • Spanish: acatante — willing to comply
  • Spanish: ateniente — willing to comply
  • Spanish: atenido — willing to comply
  • Swedish: medgörlig — willing to comply
  • Turkish: itaatkâr — willing to comply
  • Turkish: uysal — willing to comply
  • Bulgarian: съгласуван (sǎglasuvan) — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Bulgarian: в съгласие с (v sǎglasie s) — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Bulgarian: съвместим (sǎvmestim) — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Chinese Mandarin: 適應的 /适应的 — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Czech: vhodný — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Esperanto: konforma — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Esperanto: kongrua — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Finnish: vaatimusten mukainen — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Finnish: ohjeiden mukainen — compatible with or following guidelines
  • French: conforme — compatible with or following guidelines
  • German: den Auflagen entsprechen — compatible with or following guidelines
  • German: die Auflagen erfüllen — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Indonesian: patuh — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Irish: comhlíontach — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Italian: conforme — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Polish: zgodny — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Portuguese: conforme — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Russian: согласованный (soglasovannyj) — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Spanish: conforme [a/con] — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Spanish: en orden [con] — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Spanish: cumpliente [con] — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Spanish: acorde [a/con] — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Spanish: cónsono [con] — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Spanish: cónsone [con] — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Spanish: cumplidor [con] — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Swedish: förenlig — compatible with or following guidelines
  • Turkish: uyan — compatible with or following guidelines
Real reading context

compliant in complete knowledge articles