compliance

noun

com·​pli·​ance kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s 

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

a certificate of compliance

But despite being in compliance, the stores will be unable to serve beer or wine for 30 days.

—Kathy Stephenson

Modifications were made in compliance with regulations.

2

: a disposition to yield to others

When we focus on behavioral compliance in the moment, we miss out on helping our kids develop their own emotional and cognitive autonomy …

—Suzanne Allen and Annalise Caron

3

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

Synonyms of compliance

• obedience
• compliancy
• acquiescence
• deference

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 on the Web

Seehafer is a co-founder and former CEO of Enzyme, a life sciences compliance software company, and most recently worked at a venture capital firm in San Francisco before stepping into his FDA advisory role in August of last year. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026

While safety and code compliance matter, treating high-profile participants with escalating six-figure penalties risks chilling the very partners that amplify San Diego’s largest annual economic event. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

The conference then worked with its legal and compliance teams to draft a rule that the ADs approved by midday Tuesday. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

And the revision also will take into account the time constraints and investments needed to roll out a more developed EPR system, so mandatory recycling rates would be adjusted in phases to allow producers time to prepare for compliance. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

comply + -ance

First Known Use

circa 1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for compliance

• science
• appliance
• defiance
• reliance
• geoscience
• neuroscience
• noncompliance
• pseudoscience

Kids Definition

compliance

noun

com·​pli·​ance kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s 

1

: the act or process of complying

2

: a readiness or willingness to yield to others

Medical Definition

compliance

noun

com·​pli·​ance kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s 

1

: the ability or process of yielding to changes in pressure without disruption of structure or function

a study of pulmonary compliance

the tone of colonic muscle as judged by compliance of the gut wall

—S. C. Truelove

2

: the process of complying with a regimen of treatment

simplified drug regimens may encourage better compliance

Legal Definition

compliance

noun

com·​pli·​ance kəm-ˈplī-əns 

1

: an act or process of complying with a demand or recommendation

2

: observance of official requirements