compatibility

[ kuhm-pat-uh-bil-i-tee ]

noun

1. the natural ability to live or work together in harmony because of well-matched characteristics:

   In earlier times, love and compatibility were not the main considerations in finding a suitable spouse.

2. the quality or fact of being in agreement; consistency:

   Her essay questions the presumed compatibility of capitalism and democracy.

3. Computers. the ability to be used with a certain operating system or piece of hardware or software without the need for special adaptations:

   Before installing the application, check the compatibility of your device.

4. the ability to function or be integrated with other parts of any system, whether biological or technical:

   Terasaki devised the first tissue-typing method to assess the compatibility of organ donors and recipients.

Word History and Origins

Origin of compatibility¹

First recorded in 1605–15; equivalent to Medieval Latin compatibili(s) + Latin -tās; compatible ( def ), -ty ²( def )

Example Sentences

The omens, in terms of character compatibility, don’t look instantly great.

From BBC

Sudha explains that the denial of a medical license is a matter of “accreditation and compatibility, a.k.a. America hates brown foreigners.”

From Los Angeles Times

AI can invent recipes based on the molecular compatibility of ingredients or whatever a kitchen has in stock.

From Salon

The reasons cited included security concerns, unexpected costs, performance issues, compatibility problems and service downtime.

From BBC

"Travelling for people with type 1 diabetes can be hugely stressful, because of the lack of compatibility between airport scanners and certain types of lifesaving medical technology," said community partnerships and events lead, Chris Bright.

From BBC

Related Words

• rapport
• unity