compliant

adjective

com·​pli·​ant kəm-ˈplī-ənt 

1

: ready or disposed to comply : submissive

a corrupt regime aided by a compliant press

was compliant and eager to please

2

: conforming to requirements

compliant software

compliantly adverb

Synonyms of compliant

• obedient

Examples of compliant in a Sentence

I asked him for a favor, and he was compliant.

The student's shirt was not compliant with the school's dress code.

The software is compliant with the latest standards.

Recent Examples on the Web

And if the local school board still isn’t compliant after the warning, the state board can take control of the local board’s finances and appoint an administrator, according to the statute. — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2026

This means providing the organizational and contextual intelligence to ensure a compliant, relevant output across every system. — Malte Kosub, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

That year, Epstein also pitched the idea of a Sharia-compliant cryptocurrency to the Saudis and sought to discuss it with Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, popularly known as MBS. — Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Is education a conservative force that makes minorities compliant? — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

comply + -ant entry 2

Note: The meaning of compliant has most likely been influenced by the etymologically unrelated word pliant.

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for compliant

• client
• giant
• pliant
• scient
• defiant
• reliant
• suppliant
• noncompliant

Kids Definition

compliant

adjective

com·​pli·​ant kəm-ˈplī-ənt 

: ready or willing to comply : submissive

compliantly adverb