Meaning & use
compromise
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Meanings
nouncountable
An agreement in which each side accepts less than it originally wanted.
Grammar: Countable: reach a compromise.
Patterns
- reach a compromise
- a compromise between
- make a compromise
After long talks, the two sides reached a compromise.
The final design was a compromise between speed and safety.
nouncountable or uncountable
Something that accepts a lower standard in order to settle a disagreement or balance needs.
Grammar: Can be singular with an or uncountable when speaking generally.
Patterns
- a compromise on quality
- no compromise
- accept compromise
Cheap parts mean a compromise on quality.
She refused any compromise on safety rules.
verbintransitive
To settle a dispute by each side giving up part of its demands.
Grammar: Often used without an object: the two groups compromised.
Patterns
- compromise with someone
- refuse to compromise
- compromise on an issue
Neither party wanted to compromise during the budget debate.
We can compromise on the date if the time is fixed.
verbtransitive
To weaken, damage, or put something such as safety or principles at risk.
Grammar: Takes an object; common with security, safety, principles.
Patterns
- compromise security
- compromise safety
- be compromised
Sharing passwords can compromise the whole network.
He would not compromise his principles for a promotion.
Word forms
| plural | compromises |
|---|---|
| third person singular | compromises |
| past tense | compromised |
| past participle | compromised |
| -ing form | compromising |
Common combinations
- reach a compromise
- The neighbors reached a compromise on the fence line.
- compromise on safety
- The airline never compromises on safety checks.
- willing to compromise
- Both managers said they were willing to compromise.
- security compromise
- A security compromise forced the company to reset all passwords.
Synonyms and how they differ
- settlement
- Settlement is any agreement ending a dispute; compromise specifically involves concessions from both sides.
- concession
- A concession is one thing one side gives up; a compromise is the whole agreement built from concessions.
Word family
- compromising adjective
- Creating risk or embarrassment, as in compromising information.
Commonly confused: compromise or consensus?
compromise vs consensus
A compromise is reached by mutual concessions; consensus is general agreement without necessarily giving anything up.
Practice
“A good mediator helps both sides ___ rather than demand everything.”
Choose one answer.
Here compromise is an intransitive verb meaning make mutual concessions: helps both sides compromise. The other choices add ungrammatical or incorrect elements.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “compromise”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.