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

Although Chinese regulators have since eased curbs on overseas listings so long as the companies are compliant with the rules, no issuer based in the country raised more than $200 million last year in the US, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. —Michael Hytha, Fortune, 4 May 2024

Bagwell said Liberty does not single out any particular community for placements, but sparsely populated areas tend to have more homes that are compliant with SVP requirements, such as not being close to schools. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2024

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

Kids Definition

compliant

adjective

com·​pli·​ant kəm-ˈplī-ənt 

: ready or willing to comply : submissive

compliantly adverb