compatible

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /kəmˈpætəbəl/ UK /kəmˈpæt.ə.bəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #13790

Meanings

1

adj
Able to be used together with something else without problems.

This printer isn't compatible with my computer.
2

adj
Able to live or work together well in a happy, agreeable way.

They make a compatible married couple.
3

adj
In agreement with something; consistent.

His actions were compatible with his promises.
4

noun
A device or product that works with another, especially one made to match a well-known brand.

The company sells IBM compatibles at a lower price.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 adj · in agreement with... consistent congruous conformablein line

Opposites

incompatiblenoncompatible

Word family

Forms compatiblescompatibly

Related forms compassion compatibility

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

compatible software
software that can operate with a particular system or other software

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Compatible entered English in late Middle English from a Latin expression meaning “fit to suffer with.” It is based on the same Latin root pati, “to suffer,” that lies behind passion.

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.

compatible Middle French compatibilis la-med compator la-lat

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# compatible

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /kəmˈpætəbəl/
**IPA (UK):** /kəmˈpæt.ə.bəl/
**Frequency rank:** 13790

## Meanings
1. Able to be used together with something else without problems.
2. Able to live or work together well in a happy, agreeable way.
3. In agreement with something; consistent.
4. A device or product that works with another, especially one made to match a well-known brand.

## Examples
- This printer isn't compatible with my computer.
- They make a compatible married couple.
- His actions were compatible with his promises.
- The company sells IBM compatibles at a lower price.

## Antonyms
- incompatible
- noncompatible

## Related Forms
- compassion
- compatibility

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: compatible
- Root: compatibilis
- Root: compator

## 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.

## AI Etymology
compatible is an adjective and noun. It is 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. Historical forms in the chain include compatible (Middle French), compatibilis (Medieval Latin), and compator (Late Latin). Current senses include able to be used together with something else without problems, able to live or work together well in a happy, agreeable way, and in agreement with something; consistent. Related words include compassion and compatibility.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

markdown