compartmentalize

verb

com·​part·​men·​tal·​ize kəm-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tə-ˌlīz 

ˌkäm-

compartmentalized; compartmentalizing

transitive verb

: to separate into isolated compartments or categories

compartmentalization

kəm-ˌpärt-ˌmen-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌkäm-

noun

Synonyms of compartmentalize

• classify
• rank
• relegate
• distinguish
• categorize

Examples of compartmentalize in a Sentence

He compartmentalizes his life by keeping his job and his personal life separate.

The company has compartmentalized its services.

Recent Examples on the Web

Having to continue his work just days after Austin’s death, helping care for mothers and babies, Escue compartmentalized what had happened with Austin. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026

The most obvious one is an exploration of the befuddling ability of human beings to compartmentalize. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026

Elites constantly calibrate their speech and compartmentalize their innermost private thoughts. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026

The Valkyries president says self-care is a non-negotiable Smith doesn’t compartmentalize the professional and personal parts of her life. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for compartmentalize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• materialize
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• revolutionize
• actualize
• antagonize