component

noun com·po·nent \ kəm-ˈpō-nənt , ˈkäm-ˌpō- , käm-ˈpō- \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of component

1 : a constituent part : ingredient

an important component of the program

stereo components

2 a : any one of the vector terms added to form a vector sum or resultant

b : a coordinate of a vector; also : either member of an ordered pair of numbers

—

componential

play \ˌkäm-pə-ˈnen(t)-shəl\ adjective

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See component defined for kids

Examples of component in a Sentence

the components of an electric circuit
He sells spare computer components.
The interview is a key component in the hiring process.
Hard work has been a major component of his success.

Recent Examples of component from the Web

While Nirenberg has said in the past that rail could be a component in San Antonio’s future transit system, the City Hall source said that thinking has shifted and that experts worry rail isn’t adaptable enough for emerging transit technologies.

— josh baugh, San Antonio Express-News, "Nirenberg hopes to sway voters with new mass-transit plan," 10 Apr. 2018
August financial publication, primarily under the European audience and Americans who like to hang out with Europeans, and then there was a free online component.

— recode staff, Recode, "Full transcript: Financial Times CEO John Ridding on Recode Media," 10 Apr. 2018
He's been always a very important component of this club.

— jamie goldberg, OregonLive.com, "Portland Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese still deciding whether Liam Ridgewell will travel to Orlando," 3 Apr. 2018
Woven throughout is a unique educational component; indeed, many offerings spring directly from classroom curricula.

— lynn trenning, charlotteobserver, "Sensoria is CPCC’s 10-day festival of literature and the arts in Charlotte. Don’t miss it. | Charlotte Observer," 27 Mar. 2018
For example, a wine glass cannot be used both for concocting potions and entertaining guests — unless entertaining guests is a component of your spell.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "A Beginner's Guide to Casting Your Own Spells at Home," 26 Mar. 2018
The two-seater boasts a lightweight construction thanks to a reduction in the number of component parts; all of the visible parts of the car are 3D-rendered in Polymaker materials except for the chassis, seats, and glass.

— lauren ro, Curbed, "The LSEV could be a game-changer," 21 Mar. 2018
The most obvious reason why liberal democracy is splitting into its component parts lies in slow economic growth.

— The Economist, "How liberal democracy fell apart," 15 Mar. 2018
Detroit's automakers and suppliers are broadly integrated across all three countries, with vehicles and their component parts moving multiple times acorss borders during assembly.

— todd spangler, Detroit Free Press, "Trump prepares to impose tariffs, might exclude Canada and Mexico," 8 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of component

Latin component-, componens, present participle of componere to put together — more at compound

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1645

See Words from the same year

component Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of component

element, component, constituent, ingredient mean one of the parts of a compound or complex whole. element applies to any such part and often connotes irreducible simplicity.

- the basic elements of geometry

component and constituent may designate any of the substances (whether elements or compounds) or the qualities that enter into the makeup of a complex product; component stresses its separate entity or distinguishable character.

- the components of a stereo system

constituent stresses its essential and formative character.

- the constituents of a chemical compound

ingredient applies to any of the substances which when combined form a particular mixture.

- the ingredients of a cocktail

component

adjective

Definition of component

1 : serving or helping to constitute : constituent

component parts

2 of a video signal : split into multiple channels each carrying one particular set of data (such as one channel for black and white and one for color)