compliant

adjective

com·​pli·​ant kəm-ˈplī-ənt 

1

: ready or disposed to comply : submissive

a corrupt regime aided by a compliant press

was compliant and eager to please

2

: conforming to requirements

compliant software

compliantly adverb

Synonyms of compliant

• obedient

Examples of compliant in a Sentence

I asked him for a favor, and he was compliant.

The student's shirt was not compliant with the school's dress code.

The software is compliant with the latest standards.

Recent Examples on the Web

Policy alone rarely beats convenience, so make compliant tools the easiest option available. — Sonali Bloom, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026

And the pre-screen allows fliers to not have to remove belts, shoes or unload laptops and compliant liquids from luggage. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2026

Accessibility There are elevators to the rooms and suites, and an ADA-compliant entrance for the Saint Bibiana restaurant. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026

Trump did not mention an exemption for USMCA-compliant products. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

comply + -ant entry 2

Note: The meaning of compliant has most likely been influenced by the etymologically unrelated word pliant.

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for compliant

• client
• giant
• pliant
• scient
• defiant
• reliant
• suppliant
• noncompliant

Kids Definition

compliant

adjective

com·​pli·​ant kəm-ˈplī-ənt 

: ready or willing to comply : submissive

compliantly adverb