compliance
noun
com·pli·ance
kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s 
1
a
: the act or process of complying to a desire, demand, proposal, or regimen or to coercion
Patient compliance in completing the treatment regimens was excellent.—
Georgia A. Chrousos
Georgia A. Chrousos
b
: conformity in fulfilling official requirements
His actions were in compliance with state law.
2
: a disposition to yield to others
3
: the ability of an object to yield elastically when a force is applied : flexibility
Examples of compliance in a Sentence
She was rewarded for her compliance.
There has been a low rate of compliance with the new law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Following Zhao’s resignation as CEO, Binance installed Richard Teng, a former financial regulator in the UAE and Singapore, as head of the company to telegraph to authorities that the exchange was focused on compliance.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Circle became the first stablecoin issuer licensed under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, providing compliance frameworks that financial institutions require.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
The workspace is meant to allow HR to work with finance, operations and other departments on matters of compliance, performance management and talent strategy.
—Aman Kidwai, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
As part of the settlement, Binance agreed to pay more than $4 billion, remediate their anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance programs, and retain an independent compliance monitor for three years.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compliance
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Circle became the first stablecoin issuer licensed under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, providing compliance frameworks that financial institutions require.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
The workspace is meant to allow HR to work with finance, operations and other departments on matters of compliance, performance management and talent strategy.
—Aman Kidwai, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
As part of the settlement, Binance agreed to pay more than $4 billion, remediate their anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance programs, and retain an independent compliance monitor for three years.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compliance
Cite this Entry
“Compliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compliance. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compliance
noun
com·pli·ance
kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s
1
: the act or process of complying
2
: a readiness or willingness to yield to others
Medical Definition
compliance
noun
com·pli·ance
kəm-ˈplī-ən(t)s
1
: the ability or process of yielding to changes in pressure without disruption of structure or function
a study of pulmonary compliance
the tone of colonic muscle as judged by compliance of the gut wall—S. C. Truelove
S. C. Truelove2
: the process of complying with a regimen of treatment
simplified drug regimens may encourage better compliance
Legal Definition
compliance
noun
com·pli·ance
kəm-ˈplī-əns
1
: an act or process of complying with a demand or recommendation
2
: observance of official requirements
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share