ENGLISH
REFERENCE

compromise

n.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈkɑmpɹəˌmaɪz// UK //kˈɒmpɹəmˌaɪz// com·pro·mise

n. an agreement you reach by each person giving up something they want. It helps people solve a disagreement and find a middle ground.

n. an agreement or settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.


SIMPLE

Good relationships require compromise.

CONTEXTUAL

After a long debate, they reached a compromise: they would visit the beach for half the vacation and the mountains for the other half.

COMPLEX

The architect’s final design was a delicate compromise between her ambitious creative vision and the pragmatic constraints of the client's budget.

Origin

From Middle French compromis, from Medieval Latin, Late Latin compromissum (“a compromise, originally a mutual promise to refer to arbitration”), prop. neuter of Latin compromissus, past participle of compromittere (“to make a mutual promise to abide by the decision of an arbiter”), from com- (“together”) + promittere (“to promise”); see promise.

Usage

The noun can be countable or uncountable.

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