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

Noun

• bay
• cabin
• cell
• chamber
• cube
• cubicle

Verb

• assort
• break down
• categorize
• class
• classify
• codify
• compartmentalize
• digest
• distinguish
• distribute
• grade
• group
• peg
• place
• range
• rank
• relegate
• separate
• sort
• type

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

Waterproof storage bags tend to be thicker and come with waterproof compartments. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025

Inner compression netting and compartments keep everything in place and well-organized, making for a well-rounded bag that will serve you – or mom – very well. —Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

Verb

In the place where sport bikes keep their engines, the Navi has a lockable storage compartment large enough to cram in shoes, books or laptops (but not a full-face helmet). —Dan Neil, WSJ, 4 Mar. 2022

One flew into the drivers compartment through an open window and struck him in the face, temporarily stunning him. —NBC News, 9 June 2021

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

circa 1578, 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