# compromised

/ˈkɑmpɹəˌmaɪzd/ (US) · /kˈɒmpɹəmˌaɪzd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. no longer safe

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

used to describe something that is no longer secure or has been damaged by a threat.

For teachers: describing a system, security measure, or physical structure that has been weakened or made vulnerable to attack or failure.

- The bank told its customers that their credit card details were compromised.
- The security breach left thousands of user accounts compromised, forcing the company to reset all passwords and implement two-factor authentication immediately.

Usage: Often used in the context of digital security or structural integrity.

### 2. morally weakened

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

having lost your reputation or standards because you did something dishonest or weak.

For teachers: having one's reputation, integrity, or principles damaged or brought into suspicion.

- The politician's reputation was compromised after the scandal became public.
- The witness was considered compromised due to his previous business dealings with the defendant, making his testimony less credible to the jury.

Teaching tip: This sense is common in political and legal contexts to describe someone who can no longer be trusted.

## Examples

- They compromised on the price and agreed to meet in the middle.
- The hackers compromised the company's database, exposing the personal information of thousands of customers.
- The structural integrity of the bridge was compromised after years of neglect, forcing the city to close it for emergency repairs.

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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.