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

Their advanced analytical techniques revealed six non-compliant bamboo products exceeding melamine limits set by European Union regulations. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

Providing education, resources, and guidance on best practices can help employees navigate complexities and ultimately contribute to a more compliant and financially savvy workforce. —Joshua Shek, Fortune, 14 Nov. 2025

The platform aims to connect physicians, pharmacies, and diagnostics within a single, compliant system, and in doing so, MDI illustrates how robust infrastructure can transform the delivery of direct-to-consumer healthcare. —Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025

This could mean rising premiums for anyone on the ACA marketplace, regardless of reliance on subsidies, and for those on off-exchange plans, too, which tend to match their rates to ACA-compliant plans. —Rebecca Schneid, Time, 10 Nov. 2025

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

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

Kids Definition

compliant

adjective

com·​pli·​ant kəm-ˈplī-ənt 

: ready or willing to comply : submissive

compliantly adverb