compromise

The word “compromise” means an agreement reached when each side gives up part of what it wants. In plain terms, a middle-ground agreement, or to weaken/damage something (including a security breach).

“Compromise” is pronounced KOMP-ruh-myz (/ˈkɑmpɹəˌmaɪz/ in IPA).

Here is “compromise” used in a sentence: “After hours of negotiation, both sides reached a compromise.”

Depending on how it is used, “compromise” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “compromise” comes from Latin. From Latin compromissum, "a mutual promise to accept an arbiter's decision," from com- ("together") + promittere ("to promise").

“Compromise” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Compromise” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an agreement reached when each side gives up part of what it wants.

A compromise is an agreement reached when each side gives up part of what it wants, so no one gets everything. A consensus is a position that everyone can genuinely accept and support, often reached through discussion rather than mutual concession. A compromise settles a dispute by trade-offs, while consensus seeks broad agreement.

Compromise can be both. As a noun it names the agreement itself, as in 'they reached a compromise'. As a verb it describes the act of settling a disagreement through concessions, as in 'both sides had to compromise'.

In a compromise, each side gives up part of what it wants so that both gain something from the agreement. A sacrifice involves giving something up without a matching concession from the other side, often for a larger goal. Compromise is mutual; sacrifice can be one-sided.