Compatible

//kəmˈpæt.ə.bəl// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Something that is compatible with something else.

    "a computer company that sells IBM compatibles"

Adjective
  1. 1
    Capable of easy interaction.

    "This printer isn't compatible with my computer."

  2. 2
    Able to get along well.

    "My neighbours and I are not very compatible: they're loud and I'm an introvert."

  3. 3
    Consistent; congruous.

    "His actions were compatible with his sermons."

Adjective
  1. 1
    able to exist and perform in harmonious or agreeable combination wordnet
  2. 2
    capable of being used with or connected to other devices or components without modification wordnet
  3. 3
    capable of forming a homogeneous mixture that neither separates nor is altered by chemical interaction wordnet

Example

More examples

"It is that Emmet's theory is compatible with previous theories in physics that is of most significance."

Etymology

from Middle French compatible, from Medieval Latin compatibilis (“in compatibile beneficium, a benefice which could be held together with another one”), from Late Latin compator (“to suffer with”), from com- (“together”) + pati (“to suffer”); see passion.

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.