compliance

noun com·pli·ance \ kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s \

Updated on: 10 May 2018

1 a : the act or process of complying to a desire, demand, proposal, or regimen or to coercion

Patient compliance in completing the treatment regimens was excellent.
—Georgia A. Chrousos

b : conformity in fulfilling official requirements

His actions were in compliance with state law.

2 : a disposition to yield to others

3 : the ability of an object to yield elastically when a force is applied : flexibility

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Examples of compliance in a Sentence

She was rewarded for her compliance.
There has been a low rate of compliance with the new law.

Recent Examples of compliance from the Web

Other areas of the U.S. are also out of compliance, including all of New Jersey, New York City, and swaths of California.

— frank kummer, Philly.com, "Philly fails to meet smog standards, EPA says," 1 May 2018
Michigan will have three years to develop and implement plans to bring the areas into compliance, or face the potential of EPA officials enacting their own corrective measures.

— keith matheny, Detroit Free Press, "Metro Detroit, other Michigan cities violating tighter ozone rules," 1 May 2018
Major changes are coming, and the leadership of the National Association of Basketball Coaches is preaching a message of compliance, togetherness, and being stewards of the game.

— sam mellinger, kansascity, "Mellinger Minutes: Ranking KU's tournament losses under Self, plus Royals & Chiefs | The Kansas City Star," 3 Apr. 2018
Additionally, while a $50,000 figure was discussed at the February council meeting to bring the current DPW facility into compliance, the return on investment strategy put the cost at $20,000.

— erik s. hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Residents object to salt storage facility, so Cudahy to spend $5,000 on study whether its needed," 20 Mar. 2018
The award recognizes one advisor office or brand office that is best run in compliance, audit, surveillance risk and has its overall paperwork in good order.

— william thornton, AL.com, "Kelley & Mullis Wealth Management wins national award," 13 Mar. 2018
Hibbert was particularly concerned about compliance with fire codes, and whether complicated, automatic deployment systems would make the system too expensive for large schools and schools in low-income or underserved areas.

— dan robitzski, Popular Mechanics, "This Bulletproof Curtain Could Protect Students From Gunmen," 8 Mar. 2018
These include maintenance of several medians and the welcome signs, public safety, code compliance, government relations, traffic, utilities and graffiti.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "RB Community Council seeks new members," 1 Mar. 2018
Persons who choose to access the Web Site from other locations do so on their own initiative, and are responsible for compliance with local laws, if and to the extent local laws are applicable.

— Sunset, "Terms and Conditions of Use," 22 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compliance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.