English Reference
adjective

compliant

adj.
US /kəmˈpɫaɪənt/ UK /kəmplˈaɪənt/ com·pli·ant

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    following a set of rules, laws, or technical standards.

    meeting or adhering to specific requirements, regulations, or standards. Often used in legal, corporate, or technical contexts.

    Simple

    The new factory must be fully compliant with all safety regulations.

    In context

    The audit revealed that the software was not compliant with the latest data protection laws, necessitating an immediate system overhaul.

    conformantadherent
    non compliantdefiant
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    willing to do what other people want you to do without arguing.

    disposed to agree with others or obey rules, sometimes to an excessive or submissive degree.

    Simple

    The government preferred a compliant press that did not ask difficult questions.

    In context

    The negotiator found the opposing party surprisingly compliant, which made him suspicious of their long-term intentions.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    able to bend or change shape easily under pressure.

    yielding to physical pressure; having the property of compliance in a mechanical sense.

    Simple

    The robot has compliant joints that allow it to move more like a human.

    In context

    Engineers selected a more compliant material for the seal to ensure it would deform sufficiently under high pressure.

Usage compliant with all legislation

The review , external of the most recent and best quality evidence to date applies to regulated vapes that are checked for quality and compliant with strict safety laws.

BBC News· 25 Aug 2026

The 17-year-old’s family said he was travelling to his aunty’s house and was “compliant and polite during the entire incident”.

The Guardian· 25 Aug 2026

From comply + -ant.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated