compatible

1 of 2

adjective

com·​pat·​i·​ble kəm-ˈpa-tə-bəl How to pronounce compatible (audio)
1
: capable of existing together in harmony
compatible theories
compatible people
2
: capable of cross-fertilizing freely or uniting vegetatively
3
: capable of forming a homogeneous mixture that neither separates nor is altered by chemical interaction
4
: capable of being used in transfusion or grafting without reaction (such as agglutination or tissue rejection)
5
: designed to work with another device or system without modification
The printer is compatible with most computers.
especially : being a computer designed to operate in the same manner and use the same software as another computer
compatibility noun
compatibleness noun
compatibly adverb

compatible

2 of 2

noun

plural compatibles
: a device (such as a computer) or system designed to be used with another device or system without modification
This game is available on disk as well as in a full-voiced CD edition for PCs and compatibles.Scott A. May

Examples of compatible in a Sentence

Adjective two people with compatible personalities This printer is compatible with most PCs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The new Alta brewer will be compatible with current plastic K-Cups as well, but unfortunately for current owners of Keurig machines, CNET reports the new plastic- and aluminum-free rounds are not compatible with past models. Angela L. Pagán / The Takeout, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024 This device is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024 The plastic-free pods are only compatible with a specific coffee machine called the Keurig Alta, which was also announced on March 13. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 The 5-quart bowl is best suited for small to medium jobs, and the machine is compatible with KitchenAid’s large line of attachments. Laura Denby, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2024 Their mobile casino app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 It is built to be secure and private, easy to set up, and widely compatible. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 7 Mar. 2024 Casino – Best New Crypto Casino 5 BTC bonus 24 software providers 16 banking options Mobile compatible 7Bit grants new players a welcome bonus that’s up to 5 BTC (Bitcoins). Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 The processing for generative AI features is cloud-based rather than on the device itself, but not every smartphone is compatible with the new beta. Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
RadioShack was the biggest retailer of PCs through 1982, at which point its TRS-80 line began to be eclipsed by more powerful and versatile machines, including IBM’s Personal Computer, various IBM PC-compatibles, and Apple’s Macintosh line. IEEE Spectrum, 6 Dec. 2018 Custom-tailored for each astronaut, the suits are roughly 10 pounds lighter than their bulky orange predecessors, and come equipped with some top-notch features including thinner, more-flexible helmets and gloves that are touch-screen compatible. Amy Klinkhammer, Discover Magazine, 27 Jan. 2017 All televisions marketed as HDR-compatible should support this standard. Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 18 Nov. 2019 In addition to its slightly larger 10.2-inch retina display, features like the Smart Connector make the new tablet compatible with the full-size Smart Keyboard once relegated to the iPad Pro. Patrick Lucas Austin, Time, 10 Sep. 2019 Look for cases that are wireless charging-compatible. Nicole Saporita, Good Housekeeping, 20 Dec. 2018 With the success of the PC and PC compatibles, Microsoft became hugely successful. Peter Bright, Ars Technica, 16 Oct. 2018 Each zip file contains a vector EPS (Adobe Illustrator version 8+ compatible) and some artists will also include PDF and AI files as well. Jenny Knizner, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2018 Microsoft is also warning, again, that all Windows updates now require the use of a compatible, up-to-date anti-virus program. Peter Bright, Ars Technica, 1 Mar. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'compatible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Medieval Latin compatibilis, literally, sympathetic, from Late Latin compati

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of compatible was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near compatible

Cite this Entry

“Compatible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compatible. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

compatible

adjective
com·​pat·​i·​ble kəm-ˈpat-ə-bəl How to pronounce compatible (audio)
1
: capable of existing together in harmony
compatible colors
compatible devices
2
: able to cross-fertilize freely
compatible plants
compatibility noun

Medical Definition

compatible

adjective
com·​pat·​i·​ble kəm-ˈpat-ə-bəl How to pronounce compatible (audio)
1
: capable of existing together in a satisfactory relationship (as marriage)
2
: capable of being used in transfusion or grafting without immunological reaction (as agglutination or tissue rejection)
treatment of hemophilia by transfusion of compatible blood
3
of medications : capable of being administered jointly without interacting to produce deleterious effects or impairing their respective actions
compatibility noun
plural compatibilities

More from Merriam-Webster on compatible

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