compliance
noun
com·pli·ance
kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s 
1
a
: the act or process of complying to a desire, demand, proposal, or regimen or to coercion
Patient compliance in completing the treatment regimens was excellent.—
Georgia A. Chrousos
Georgia A. Chrousos
b
: conformity in fulfilling official requirements
His actions were in compliance with state law.
2
: a disposition to yield to others
3
: the ability of an object to yield elastically when a force is applied : flexibility
Examples of compliance in a Sentence
She was rewarded for her compliance.
There has been a low rate of compliance with the new law.
Recent Examples on the Web
In April 2024, authorities started using aerial drone surveillance to monitor hijab compliance in public spaces.
—Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
The Bee and Stanton were honored by SPJ NorCal in 2020, recognizing work by Stanton and his colleagues in seeking compliance with Senate Bill 1421, a police transparency law, among other investigative work.
—Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 16 Mar. 2025
The agency's taxpayer services and compliance departments are expected to lose thousands of workers in what could be the first of several waves of firings, one of the sources said.
—Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025
Internet Works is also calling for clear compliance obligations to ensure these are proportionate to a company’s influence and role in AI development.
—Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compliance
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Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
The Bee and Stanton were honored by SPJ NorCal in 2020, recognizing work by Stanton and his colleagues in seeking compliance with Senate Bill 1421, a police transparency law, among other investigative work.
—Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 16 Mar. 2025
The agency's taxpayer services and compliance departments are expected to lose thousands of workers in what could be the first of several waves of firings, one of the sources said.
—Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025
Internet Works is also calling for clear compliance obligations to ensure these are proportionate to a company’s influence and role in AI development.
—Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compliance
Articles Related to compliance
Cite this Entry
“Compliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compliance. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compliance
noun
com·pli·ance
kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s
1
: the act or process of complying
2
: a readiness or willingness to yield to others
Medical Definition
compliance
noun
com·pli·ance
kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s
1
: the ability or process of yielding to changes in pressure without disruption of structure or function
a study of pulmonary compliance
the tone of colonic muscle as judged by compliance of the gut wall—S. C. Truelove
S. C. Truelove2
: the process of complying with a regimen of treatment
simplified drug regimens may encourage better compliance
Legal Definition
compliance
noun
com·pli·ance
kəm-ˈplī-əns
1
: an act or process of complying with a demand or recommendation
2
: observance of official requirements
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