compilation

noun

com·​pi·​la·​tion ˌkäm-pə-ˈlā-shən 

also -ˌpī-

1

: the act or process of compiling

the annual compilation of data

2

: something compiled

a compilation of hit songs

a compilation of vehicular accident reports

Synonyms of compilation

• anthology

Examples of compilation in a Sentence

The CD is a compilation of greatest hits.

the slow compilation of data

Recent Examples on the Web

The compilation has spent the same length of time, an incredible 446 weeks, on those genre-specific registers. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026

She's released seven studio albums, most recently in 2016, and put out a compilation album titled Ten in 2019. —Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026

Most songs, of course, have to earn their way onto a greatest hits compilation. —Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 4 June 2026

To demonstrate the issue during his public comment, Lamb held an iPad to the microphone and played a nearly minute-long compilation video he’d filmed of cars driving around the streets of Charlotte with popping and grating sounds. —Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

see compile

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for compilation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

compilation

noun

com·​pi·​la·​tion ˌkäm-pə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act or process of compiling

2

: something compiled

especially : a book of materials gathered from other books

Legal Definition

compilation

noun

com·​pi·​la·​tion ˌkäm-pə-ˈlā-shən 

: a collection of preexisting materials and data so arranged to form a new original work under the law of copyright