1
2
a
: having a dense structure or parts or units closely packed or joined
a compact woolen
compact bone
b
: not diffuse or verbose
a compact statement
c
: occupying a small volume by reason of efficient use of space
a compact camera
a compact formation of troops
d
: short-bodied, solid, and without excess flesh
He had a small, compact body that looked full of life.—
D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence3
: being a topological space and especially a metric space with the property that for any collection of open sets which contains it there is a subset of the collection with a finite number of elements which also contains it
compacted; compacting; compacts
1
: to make up by connecting or combining : compose
: to become compacted
com·pact
ˈkäm-ˌpakt 
: something that is compact or compacted:
a
: a small cosmetic case (as for compressed powder)
b
: an automobile smaller than an intermediate but larger than a subcompact
com·pact
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
: an agreement or covenant between two or more parties
Synonyms
Examples of compact in a Sentence
Adjective
The drill has a compact design.
the apartment's compact floor plan
The cabin was compact but perfectly adequate.
He is compact and muscular.
He has a compact body.
Verb
The snow had compacted into a hard icy layer.
the media giant decided to compact all of its far-flung operations onto a single site
Recent Examples on the WebOlivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2024
The doors could open if the compact car's rear doors are not locked.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
The Roadie 24 Hard Cooler, in particular, is a best-seller thanks to its compact size yet spacious capacity.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
This toy is much more compact than a baby pool or inflatable water slide but provides just as much fun.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 15 Apr. 2024
Such high resolution is unheard of for a compact lidar system without external lenses.
—Susumu Noda, IEEE Spectrum, 14 Apr. 2024
Other cities in the U.S. have mechanized trash trucks, but, according to city sanitation officials, no domestic manufacturer makes a model compact and quiet enough to drive down a Manhattan street.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The release noted that out of nearly 200 measurements of compact object masses, only one other merger involved an object in the apparent mass gap, that one merging with a black hole.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2024
This is a compact form of the long-popular native southern evergreen with glossy, dark green leaves and showy white, late spring blooms.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
With the pull of a lever, a worker activates the hopper’s powerful hydraulic jaw, which chomps down on the trash and compacts it.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The hillside work involved removing debris, grading and compacting the slope, installing pins, and placing plastic tarps and stakes.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
When catcher Buster Posey returned after suffering a broken leg, Elliott and his crew made the surface behind and around the plate a bit more forgiving, compacting the soil underneath to provide support, but covering the area in a softer blanket of clay.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
Tilling appears to fluff up and soften soil but actually causes the soil to compact.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Precision Wiring The wiring pattern in the cerebellum is precisely organized and compacted to concentrate three-quarters of the brain’s neurons into a 4-inch lobe.
—R Douglas Fields, WIRED, 31 Mar. 2024
Some scientists believe that, before their extinction, grazing animals such as mammoths, horses and bison kept the earth frozen underneath by tramping down the grass, knocking down trees and compacting snow.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
It's made of multiple layers of snow from different snowfalls that become compacted.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2024
Mekela Panditharatne, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Click here] After federal lawmakers missed the initial deadline for approving a new compact with the Marshall Islands, Congress finally agreed to extend the relationship with the Pacific island nation as well as similar agreements with Micronesia and Palau.
—Alex Thomas, arkansasonline.com, 17 Mar. 2024
The security compacts were successfully renewed for another 20 years last May and were supposed to be implemented Oct. 1.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2024
According to some secessionists, the Wide Awakes had already broken the compact that held the states together.
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
To get around the 2018 constitutional amendment, the compact required all online sports bets from players in Florida be placed via the tribe’s servers.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
The compacts ensure agencies share resources in the event of a large emergency and the cancellations have left some residents uneasy.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Both states’ legislatures have considered bills to join the compact.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024
The pari-mutuel firms also sued DeSantis and leaders of the Florida Legislature, which authorized the compact, in a case pending before the Florida Supreme Court.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024
Adjective
For packing convenience, the fabric seat separates from the frame, which folds down to fit into a relatively compact 17-inch by 7-inch carrying sack.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2024
The doors could open if the compact car's rear doors are not locked.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
The Roadie 24 Hard Cooler, in particular, is a best-seller thanks to its compact size yet spacious capacity.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
This toy is much more compact than a baby pool or inflatable water slide but provides just as much fun.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 15 Apr. 2024
Such high resolution is unheard of for a compact lidar system without external lenses.
—Susumu Noda, IEEE Spectrum, 14 Apr. 2024
Other cities in the U.S. have mechanized trash trucks, but, according to city sanitation officials, no domestic manufacturer makes a model compact and quiet enough to drive down a Manhattan street.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The release noted that out of nearly 200 measurements of compact object masses, only one other merger involved an object in the apparent mass gap, that one merging with a black hole.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 7 Apr. 2024
This is a compact form of the long-popular native southern evergreen with glossy, dark green leaves and showy white, late spring blooms.
—Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
Goldfarb: One of the challenges is that often the soil is really compacted.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
With the pull of a lever, a worker activates the hopper’s powerful hydraulic jaw, which chomps down on the trash and compacts it.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The hillside work involved removing debris, grading and compacting the slope, installing pins, and placing plastic tarps and stakes.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
When catcher Buster Posey returned after suffering a broken leg, Elliott and his crew made the surface behind and around the plate a bit more forgiving, compacting the soil underneath to provide support, but covering the area in a softer blanket of clay.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
Tilling appears to fluff up and soften soil but actually causes the soil to compact.
—Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2024
Precision Wiring The wiring pattern in the cerebellum is precisely organized and compacted to concentrate three-quarters of the brain’s neurons into a 4-inch lobe.
—R Douglas Fields, WIRED, 31 Mar. 2024
Some scientists believe that, before their extinction, grazing animals such as mammoths, horses and bison kept the earth frozen underneath by tramping down the grass, knocking down trees and compacting snow.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 9 Mar. 2024
It's made of multiple layers of snow from different snowfalls that become compacted.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2024
Noun
While not unwelcome, the success of the compact will depend on how its commitments are executed.
—Mekela Panditharatne, TIME, 10 Apr. 2024
Click here] After federal lawmakers missed the initial deadline for approving a new compact with the Marshall Islands, Congress finally agreed to extend the relationship with the Pacific island nation as well as similar agreements with Micronesia and Palau.
—Alex Thomas, arkansasonline.com, 17 Mar. 2024
The security compacts were successfully renewed for another 20 years last May and were supposed to be implemented Oct. 1.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 18 Feb. 2024
According to some secessionists, the Wide Awakes had already broken the compact that held the states together.
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024
To get around the 2018 constitutional amendment, the compact required all online sports bets from players in Florida be placed via the tribe’s servers.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
The compacts ensure agencies share resources in the event of a large emergency and the cancellations have left some residents uneasy.
—Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
Both states’ legislatures have considered bills to join the compact.
—Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024
The pari-mutuel firms also sued DeSantis and leaders of the Florida Legislature, which authorized the compact, in a case pending before the Florida Supreme Court.
—Mike Schneider, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to compact
Dictionary Entries Near compact
Cite this Entry
“Compact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compact. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compact
2 of 4 verb1
: to draw together : combine, consolidate
2
: to make or become compact : compress
compact
3 of 4 noun
com·pact
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
1
: a small cosmetic case
2
: a somewhat small automobile
compact
4 of 4 noun
com·pact
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English compact "firmly put together," from Latin compactus (same meaning), from compingere "to join," from com- "together" and pangere "to fasten"
Noun
from Latin compactum "agreement," derived from compacisci "to make an agreement," from com- "with, together" and pacisci "to agree"
Medical Definition
: having a dense structure without small cavities or cells
compact bone
compare cancellous
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