compartmentalize

verb

com·​part·​men·​tal·​ize kəm-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tə-ˌlīz 

ˌkäm-

compartmentalized; compartmentalizing

transitive verb

: to separate into isolated compartments or categories

compartmentalization

kəm-ˌpärt-ˌmen-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌkäm-

noun

Synonyms

• assort
• break down
• categorize
• class
• classify
• codify
• compartment
• digest
• distinguish
• distribute
• grade
• group
• peg
• place
• range
• rank
• relegate
• separate
• sort
• type

Examples of compartmentalize in a Sentence

He compartmentalizes his life by keeping his job and his personal life separate.

The company has compartmentalized its services.

Recent Examples on the Web

Kirk’s ability to compartmentalize is the trait most lauded by Schneider. —Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025

This practice of compartmentalizing my thinking has significantly boosted my productivity. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

To guard against Russian penetration, Kondratyuk compartmentalized new teams within HUR, recruiting for them only officers under 30, with no memory of the Soviet Union and who only knew an independent Ukraine. —Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2025

While men are often encouraged to integrate work and family, women are expected to compartmentalize, downplay or even hide their roles as mothers as a weakness or obstacle to their careers. —Patricia Nagy, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for compartmentalize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• materialize
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• revolutionize
• actualize
• antagonize