compact

1 of 4

adjective

com·​pact kəm-ˈpakt 

käm-ˈpakt,

ˈkäm-ˌpakt

1

: predominantly formed or filled : composed, made

Miss Austen's novels are compact of delicate trivialities …

—Samuel Alexander

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

3

: 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

compactly

kəm-ˈpak(t)-lē 

käm-ˈpak(t)-

ˈkäm-ˌpak(t)-

adverb

compactness

kəm-ˈpak(t)-nəs 

käm-ˈpak(t)-

ˈkäm-ˌpak(t)-

noun

compact

2 of 4

verb

compacted; compacting; compacts

transitive verb

1

: to make up by connecting or combining : compose

2

a

: to knit or draw together : combine

b

: to press together : compress

intransitive verb

: to become compacted

compactible

kəm-ˈpak-tə-bəl 

käm-ˈpak-

ˈkäm-ˌpak-

adjective

compactor noun

or less commonly compacter

kəm-ˈpak-tər 

käm-ˈpak-,

ˈkäm-ˌpak-

compact

3 of 4

noun (1)

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

compact

4 of 4

noun (2)

com·​pact ˈkäm-ˌpakt 

: an agreement or covenant between two or more parties

Synonyms

Adjective

• hard
• solid
• compressed
• stiff
• rigid
• thick
• dense
• heavy
• compacted
• sturdy

Verb

• consolidate
• concentrate
• integrate

Noun (2)

• treaty
• pact

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

Noun (2)

a five-nation compact to control drug traffic

the two made a compact never to artificially prolong the other's life in the event of incapacitating illness or injury

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The Lotus bench is pretty compact and, when its main compartment is closed, doesn’t even look like it’s intended for storage. —Sara Coughlin, SELF, 26 June 2025

The four celestial bodies will be within a few degrees of one another, forming a compact, eye-catching cluster that will be easy to see with the naked eye. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

Verb

Moss tends to be found in areas where soil is compacted and there’s no internal drainage. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 June 2025

The inactivated chromosome can be seen under a microscope as a tiny dark Barr body compacted inside cells. —Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

Noun

All varieties of the enduring compact were restyled this year so there’s little difference in exterior or interior appearances — except one. —James Raia, Mercury News, 22 June 2025

The money is part of NZ $200 million directed to the Cook Islands by New Zealand over the past three years as part of an almost 60-year-old free association compact. —Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Verb

Middle English, firmly put together, from Latin compactus, from past participle of compingere to put together, from com- + pangere to fasten — more at pact

Noun (2)

Latin compactum, from neuter of compactus, past participle of compacisci to make an agreement, from com- + pacisci to contract — more at pact

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1601, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1591, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing compact

• compact disc
• compact fluorescent bulb
• compact fluorescent lamp
• compact fluorescent light
• compact fluorescent light bulb

Kids Definition

compact

1 of 4 adjective

com·​pact kəm-ˈpakt 

ˈkäm-ˌpakt

1

: closely united or packed : solid, firm

2

: arranged so as to save space

a compact house

3

: not wordy : brief

compactly adverb

compactness

kəm-ˈpak(t)-nəs 

ˈkäm-ˌpak(t)-

noun

compact

2 of 4 verb

1

: to draw together : combine, consolidate

2

: to make or become compact : compress

compactor noun

also compacter

kəm-ˈpak-tər 

ˈkäm-ˌpak-

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 

: agreement sense 2a, contract

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

compact

adjective

com·​pact kəm-ˈpakt  käm-ˈ 

ˈkäm-ˌ

: having a dense structure without small cavities or cells

compact bone

compare cancellous