compression

noun

com·​pres·​sion kəm-ˈpre-shən 

1

a

: the act, process, or result of compressing

b

: the state of being compressed

2

: the process of compressing the fuel mixture in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine (as in an automobile)

3

: the compressed remains of a fossil plant

4

: conversion (as of data, a data file, or a communications signal) in order to reduce the space occupied or bandwidth required

compressional

kəm-ˈpre-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of compression

• squeezing
• condensing
• contraction
• condensation
• squeeze
• contracting
• constriction

Examples of compression in a Sentence

the compression of a long, complicated story into a two-hour movie is never easy

Recent Examples on the Web

Further, while about 4,000 workers across Hartford HealthCare’s hospitals, ambulatory locations, and support functions will benefit from this increase, an additional 4,000 will benefit from compression adjustments, the documents show. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

The experiments were not designed to demonstrate ignition or fusion gain, but to isolate and test this core compression principle. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026

Women are not the only ones who experience osteoporosis, hip fractures, and vertebral compression fractures. — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2026

The software also supports OCR, redaction, repair, batch processing, and compression, as well as headers, footers, page numbers, and watermarks. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for compression

• accession
• aggression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression
• possession

Kids Definition

compression

noun

com·​pres·​sion kəm-ˈpresh-ən 

1

: the act, process, or result of compressing : the state of being compressed

2

: the process of compressing the fuel mixture in the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine

compressional

-(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

compression

noun

com·​pres·​sion kəm-ˈpresh-ən 

: the act, process, or result of compressing especially when involving a compressing force on a bodily part

compression of an artery by forceps

compression of the brain by the bones of a depressed fracture