compartment

1 of 2

noun

com·​part·​ment kəm-ˈpärt-mənt 

1

: a separate division or section

2

: one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided

compartmental

kəm-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tᵊl 

ˌkäm-

adjective

compartment

2 of 2

verb

com·​part·​ment kəm-ˈpärt-ˌment  -mənt 

compartmented; compartmenting; compartments

transitive verb

: compartmentalize

Synonyms of compartment

Noun

• chamber
• cell
• cabin

Verb

• rank
• classify
• group
• place
• type
• relegate
• separate
• distinguish
• class
• grade
• sort
• compartmentalize

Examples of compartment in a Sentence

Noun

The suitcase has a zippered compartment for personal items.

The refrigerator has a separate compartment for meats.

Verb

compartment the responses according to country of origin

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The stoneware dishes, with their childlike design, candy-colored glazes, and divided compartments, might jog formative memories of Montessori sorting trays or vintage TV dinners. — Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026

In the cottages, the bathroom toilet compartments aren’t large enough to accommodate a wheelchair and there’s no guard rail, although the bathrooms themselves are roomy, with large walk-in showers. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Dyson has maintained CameraJet was not formally recalled, but water reaching a battery compartment is the kind of defect that attracts scrutiny from consumer-safety agencies. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026

The sanitizer in the third section of the three-compartment sink measured only 50 parts per million, well below the preferred 400 parts per million. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French compartiment, from Italian compartimento, from compartire to mark out in parts, from Late Latin compartiri to share out, from Latin com- + partiri to share, from part-, pars part, share

First Known Use

Noun

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1918, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing compartment

• glove compartment

Rhymes for compartment

• apartment
• departement
• department

Kids Definition

compartment

noun

com·​part·​ment

kəm-ˈpärt-mənt

1

: a separate division or section

2

: one of the parts into which an enclosed space is divided