# compromise

/ˈkɑmpɹəˌmaɪz/ (US) · /kˈɒmpɹəmˌaɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/compromise
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. mutual agreement

noun · CEFR B2

an agreement where two people or groups both give up something they wanted so they can agree.

For teachers: a settlement of differences in which each side makes concessions to reach a common middle ground.

- After hours of talking, they reached a compromise on the price of the car.
- The final treaty was a delicate compromise that satisfied neither side completely but successfully averted a full-scale trade war.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'reach', 'make', or 'strike'.

### 2. loss of standards

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of giving up your principles or doing something you do not think is right.

For teachers: a concession that is perceived as prejudicial or derogatory to one's principles, standards, or reputation.

- He felt that taking the money was a compromise of his honesty.
- The senator's supporters viewed the new policy as a moral compromise that betrayed the core values of the party.

### 3. to reach an agreement

verb · CEFR B2

to give up part of what you want so that you can agree with someone else.

For teachers: to settle a dispute by mutual concession. Often used intransitively.

- We were both tired of fighting, so we decided to compromise on where to go for dinner.
- In a coalition government, parties must frequently compromise on their individual manifestos to maintain a functional legislative majority.

### 4. to endanger or weaken

verb · CEFR B2

to put something in a dangerous or weak position by acting carelessly.

For teachers: to expose to danger, suspicion, or disrepute; to weaken or damage the integrity of something.

- If you don't wear a helmet, you compromise your safety while riding.
- The leaked documents could compromise the safety of several undercover agents working abroad.

### 5. to breach security

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to break into a computer system or find a way around security.

For teachers: to gain unauthorized access to a computer system or network, resulting in a security breach.

- Hackers managed to compromise the company's database and steal customer emails.
- The IT department confirmed that the server had been compromised via a sophisticated phishing attack targeting senior executives.

Usage: Usually transitive, taking the system or network as the direct object.

## Examples

- Good relationships require compromise.
- After a long debate, they reached a compromise: they would visit the beach for half the vacation and the mountains for the other half.
- The architect’s final design was a delicate compromise between her ambitious creative vision and the pragmatic constraints of the client's budget.

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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.