compartment

1 of 2

noun

com·​part·​ment kəm-ˈpärt-mənt 

1

: a separate division or section

2

: one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided

compartmental

kəm-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tᵊl 

ˌkäm-

adjective

compartment

2 of 2

verb

com·​part·​ment kəm-ˈpärt-ˌment  -mənt 

compartmented; compartmenting; compartments

transitive verb

: compartmentalize

Synonyms of compartment

Noun

• chamber
• cell
• cabin

Verb

• rank
• classify
• group
• place
• type
• relegate
• separate
• distinguish
• class
• grade
• sort
• compartmentalize

Examples of compartment in a Sentence

Noun

The suitcase has a zippered compartment for personal items.

The refrigerator has a separate compartment for meats.

Verb

compartment the responses according to country of origin

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This bag has an enormous main compartment that can hold bulky clothing items, a laptop compartment that keeps electronics tidy and folds down flat for easy packing, and multiple front-access pockets packed with slots of all shapes and sizes. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2026

This Samsonite style has a sleek design, a padded laptop compartment, and an expandable water bottle pocket. —Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026

Observed An Improper Air Gap At The 3-compartment Sink. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2026

At the bottom of each compartment is a drainage hole to assist with soil aeration, and at the top is another hole to help vine plants grow upward. —Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French compartiment, from Italian compartimento, from compartire to mark out in parts, from Late Latin compartiri to share out, from Latin com- + partiri to share, from part-, pars part, share

First Known Use

Noun

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1918, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing compartment

• glove compartment

Rhymes for compartment

• apartment
• departement
• department

Kids Definition

compartment

noun

com·​part·​ment

kəm-ˈpärt-mənt

1

: a separate division or section

2

: one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided