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

Meaning a property that’s fully compliant in one market can be out of compliance in another. — Anthony Paganucci, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Borges said the school has been fully compliant with the department and forthcoming with financial records. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

In Russia, soldiers die at the front by the hundreds of thousands while politically compliant billionaires accumulate obscene fortunes. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 22 Oct. 2026

Accessibility The hotel includes several ADA-compliant rooms with roll-in showers and wide entrances. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 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