compromise meaning and examples

Meaning

Compromise can be used as both a noun and a verb.

• As a noun: It means an agreement reached by each side giving up part of their demands.
• As a verb: It means to settle a dispute by making concessions, or to weaken/damage something (e.g., principles, security, reputation).

Grammar and Usage

• Part of speech: noun, verb

• Noun usage: "reach a compromise," "make a compromise," "a compromise solution"

• Verb usage:

  • Intransitive: "They compromised on the issue."
  • Transitive: "He compromised his values." / "The system was compromised by hackers."

Common Phrases

• reach a compromise – to arrive at an agreement through concessions
• make a compromise – to accept less than what one wanted
• compromise solution – a middle-ground decision
• compromise safety/security – to put safety/security at risk
• compromise one’s principles – to give up moral standards for convenience

Collocations

• adjective + compromise: acceptable compromise, uneasy compromise, workable compromise
• verb + compromise: reach, seek, make, accept, refuse
• compromise + noun: compromise agreement, compromise position, compromise candidate
• compromise + abstract nouns: compromise safety, compromise security, compromise integrity

Examples

1. After hours of debate, they finally reached a compromise.
2. The manager tried to make a compromise between the two teams.
3. For the sake of peace, she decided to compromise on her original demands.
4. He refused to compromise his principles just to get ahead.
5. The new law is a compromise solution between business interests and environmental concerns.
6. Their marriage survived because they learned how to compromise.
7. The company’s reputation was compromised by the scandal.
8. Hackers compromised the system and stole sensitive data.
9. Sometimes, finding common ground requires painful compromises.
10. The agreement was seen as an uneasy compromise rather than a full resolution.

Synonyms or Related

• As a noun: settlement, agreement, middle ground, concession
• As a verb: adjust, yield, concede, undermine, endanger