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

Procurement rewards the cheapest compliant bid, so the unpatched, unsupported systems everyone worries about are exactly what the buying process keeps choosing. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

In 1997, there were slightly less than 200 Jones Act–compliant oceangoing ships, meaning they were built, owned, and operated by Americans; now there are about 92. — James Surowiecki, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026

Commercial ships still accounted for more than 70% of traffic over the period, although only about one-third were assessed as compliant with maritime restrictions. — Lee Ying Shan,anniek Bao, CNBC, 21 July 2026

Unlike previous tariffs, the measure applies to products compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, a free trade agreement. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 21 July 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