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

• amenable
• biddable
• conformable
• docile
• law-abiding
• obedient
• submissive
• tractable

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

That’s because police have used the state of exception to sweep up street vendors, who’ve been much more compliant with eviction notices ever since. —Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025

This can be done by gathering data that is 100% compliant and cleansing data regularly. —Rob Sanchez, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025

In this case two individuals were within a few feet of an armed, non compliant individual. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025

For example, all permanent licenses issued in Georgia after 2012 are REAL ID compliant, according to the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). —Cnn.com, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025

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

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

Kids Definition

compliant

adjective

com·​pli·​ant kəm-ˈplī-ənt 

: ready or willing to comply : submissive

compliantly adverb