VocabauraVOCABAURA

compromise

noun · verb

Simple meaning

An agreement where each side gives up something it wanted.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

kahmpruhmyz

Say the bold part a little louder.

US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈkɑmpɹəmaɪz

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. The settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions.

  2. A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender.

verb

  1. To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound.

  2. intransitive

    To find a way between extremes.

  3. To pledge by some act or declaration; to endanger the life, reputation, etc., of, by some act which can not be recalled; to expose to suspicion.

  4. transitive

    To breach (a security system).

  5. transitive

    To cause impairment of.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
B1 · Intermediate (estimated)
Frequency
Moderately Common
Typical Use
Neutral / general English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: The settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions.

Used this way, compromise is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Matter-of-fact
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use compromise

  • “The newly elected congressmen rejected a compromise because they considered it `business as usual'”noun
  • “The nuclear secrets of the state were compromised by the spy.”verb

Share your sentence

Write your own example sentence using “compromise”. We review each one before it appears.

Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

compromise solutionsome compromisepolitical compromise

Tap the highlighted word to open its own entry.

Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Inflected forms

Grammatical variations of the same word.

  • compromisingadjectiveInflected form

    Making or willing to make concessions.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • compromise verdictnounCompound term

    A verdict resulting from improper compromises between jurors on material issues.

  • missouri compromisenounCompound term

    An agreement in 1820 between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States concerning the extension of slavery into new territories.

Use This Word

See how this word sounds in a real sentence.

Ask Vocabaura

Understand the word your way.

What Does It Mean Here?

Words can change meaning depending on context.

Related Learning

Guides that use this word in context.

Use it yourself

Knowing “compromise” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.

Know the meaning? Practice using it in a real situation, free, no credits.

Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.