compartmentalize

verb

com·​part·​men·​tal·​ize kəm-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tə-ˌlīz 

ˌkäm-

compartmentalized; compartmentalizing

transitive verb

: to separate into isolated compartments or categories

compartmentalization

kəm-ˌpärt-ˌmen-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌkäm-

noun

Synonyms

• assort
• break down
• categorize
• class
• classify
• codify
• compartment
• digest
• distinguish
• distribute
• grade
• group
• peg
• place
• range
• rank
• relegate
• separate
• sort
• type

Examples of compartmentalize in a Sentence

He compartmentalizes his life by keeping his job and his personal life separate.

The company has compartmentalized its services.

Recent Examples on the Web

These personal challenges inevitably influence workplace performance, even when employees try to compartmentalize them. —Kara Dennison, Sphr, Cprw, Ec, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

When employees are forced to compartmentalize their lives so strictly the natural interplay between personal experience and professional innovation is lost. —Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

Yet on a private level, conquering this fear and being able to compartmentalize emotion, something women have traditionally not been seen as doing as much, had implications for her in terms of family life and motherhood when her turn came. —Addie Morfoot, Variety, 29 Mar. 2025

Diplomats will have to compartmentalize lingering disputes. —Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for compartmentalize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• materialize
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• revolutionize
• actualize
• antagonize