compromise

plural compromises

1. countableuncountableThe settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions.

   That's the nature of compromises. They truly satisfy no one.

   2021 June 30, Philip Haigh, “Regional trains squeezed as ECML congestion heads north”, in RAIL, number 934, page 53

   3 more examples

   But basely yielded upon compromise / That which his noble ancestors achieved with blows.

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

   All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.

   1775, Edmund Burke, Conciliation with America

   An abhorrence of concession and compromise is a never failing characteristic of religious factions.

   1827, Henry Hallam, The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC

2. countableuncountableA committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender.

   a compromise of character or right

   1 more example

   I was determined not to accept any fine speeches, to the compromise of that sex the belonging to which was, after all, my strongest claim and title to them.

   1823, Charles Lamb, Modern Gallantry

3. countableuncountablecomputer securityA breach of a computer or network's rules such that an unauthorized disclosure or loss of sensitive information may have occurred, or the unauthorized disclosure or loss itself.

present singular third person compromises · participle present compromising · participle past compromised · past compromised

1. ambitransitiveTo bind by mutual agreement.

   Laban and himself were compromised / That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied / Should fall as Jacob's hire.

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

   1 more example

   In all the flutter of peace talk, a public desire to be done with war, and a readiness to compromise through mediation, was revealed.

   2011, Barbara W. Tuchman, The First Salute, Random House Publishing

2. To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound.

   The controversy may easily be compromised.

   a. 1662 (date written), Thomas Fuller, The History of the Worthies of England, London: […] J[ohn] G[rismond,] W[illiam] L[eybourne] and W[illiam] G[odbid], published 1662, →OCLC

   Synonyms: split the difference

3. intransitiveTo find a way between extremes.
4. To pledge by some act or declaration; to endanger the life, reputation, etc., of, by some act which can not be recalled; to expose to suspicion.

   to pardon all who had been compromised in the late disturbances

   1856, John Lothrop Motley, The Rise of the Dutch Republic. A History. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC

5. transitiveTo cause impairment of.
6. transitiveTo illegally expose.

   He compromised dozens of United States Government classified documents […]

   2001 February, Stefan A. Pluta, “United States of America v. Robert Philip Hanssen: Affidavit in Support of Criminal Complaint, Arrest Warrant and Search Warrants”, in United States District Court, archived from the original on 30 Jun 2025, page 3

7. transitiveTo breach (a security system).

   They tried to compromise the security in the computer by guessing the password.

1. A township in Champaign County, Illinois, United States.