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Definition of compartmentalize

compartmentalize

/kəmˌpɑːrtˈmɛntəlaɪz/
(UK: compartmentalise)
com · part · men · tal · ize
Adjective:compartmental
•
Past Simple:compartmentalized
•
Past Participle:compartmentalized
•
Present Participle:compartmentalizing
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compartmentalize Lexical Profile

• verb

1

To divide into discrete sections, categories, or compartments.

Example

"The organization decided to compartmentalize its research projects to protect sensitive proprietary data."

2

To mentally separate conflicting thoughts, emotions, or areas of life so that they do not interfere with one another (especially in psychology).

Example

"Emergency room physicians often learn to compartmentalize their emotions in order to remain calm during a crisis."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for compartmentalize
Antonyms
View all antonyms for compartmentalize

• Nearby Words

comparer
comparison
compartment
compartmentalize
compass
compassion
compassionate

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 20th century from 'compartmental' and the suffix '-ize', ultimately tracing back via Middle French 'compartiment' to Late Latin 'compartiri', meaning 'to divide or share'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Compartmentalize. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/compartmentalize
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