compliant

adjective

com·​pli·​ant kəm-ˈplī-ənt 

1

: ready or disposed to comply : submissive

a corrupt regime aided by a compliant press

was compliant and eager to please

2

: conforming to requirements

compliant software

compliantly adverb

Synonyms of compliant

• obedient

Examples of compliant in a Sentence

I asked him for a favor, and he was compliant.

The student's shirt was not compliant with the school's dress code.

The software is compliant with the latest standards.

Recent Examples on the Web

Men’s Central Jail needs to be replaced with a modern, constitutionally compliant facility that provides real mental health and substance abuse treatment, not abandoned and forgotten while people die inside. —Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 4 May 2026

Accessibility This hotel is especially accessible, with the majority of rooms accessed from the parking lot or from wide walkways, and an ADA compliant pool lift. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2026

Beagles are a frequent subject of animal testing because of their manageable size and compliant personalities, according to the Beagle Freedom Project, which has been helping to coordinate the rescue. —Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 3 May 2026

Starting with Louisiana, many states with Republican majorities will revisit their old VRA-compliant maps, and will likely gerrymander out majority-Black districts, as soon as this year. —Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

comply + -ant entry 2

Note: The meaning of compliant has most likely been influenced by the etymologically unrelated word pliant.

First Known Use

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for compliant

• client
• giant
• pliant
• scient
• defiant
• reliant
• suppliant
• noncompliant
• supergiant

Kids Definition

compliant

adjective

com·​pli·​ant kəm-ˈplī-ənt 

: ready or willing to comply : submissive

compliantly adverb