# compatible

/kəmˈpætəbəɫ/ (US) · /kəmpˈætəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/compatible
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. working well together

adjective · CEFR B2

able to exist, live, or work together without problems or conflict.

For teachers: capable of existing or performing in harmonious combination; often used to describe interpersonal relationships or abstract ideas.

- They decided to get married because they were highly compatible and shared the same goals.
- The new policy is not entirely compatible with the existing regulations, which may lead to legal challenges during the implementation phase.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'with'.

### 2. technical integration

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

able to be used together with other equipment or software without needing changes.

For teachers: referring to hardware or software capable of functioning together without modification.

- This software is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.
- The legacy database proved to be compatible with the cloud-based architecture, saving the IT department months of data migration work.

Usage: Often used with 'with' to indicate the secondary system.

### 3. a compatible device

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a piece of equipment or software that can work with another system.

For teachers: a device or software package designed to be used in conjunction with a specific system or standard.

- The store sells expensive original parts and cheaper compatibles.
- During the early years of personal computing, the market was flooded with IBM compatibles that offered similar performance at a fraction of the cost.

## Examples

- This new software is not compatible with my old computer.
- The two business partners were successful because their different management styles were surprisingly compatible.
- The committee must ensure that the proposed environmental regulations are fully compatible with existing international trade agreements to avoid legal challenges.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.