compliance

The word “compliance” means the act of following rules, laws, or requests set by others. In plain terms, following the rules — whether laws, regulations, or someone's wishes.

“Compliance” is pronounced kuhm-PLEYE-uhns (/kəmˈplaɪ.əns/ in IPA).

Here is “compliance” used in a sentence: “The factory was inspected to ensure compliance with safety regulations.”

Words with a similar meaning to “compliance” include compliancy.

The opposite of “compliance” — its antonyms — are non-compliance, noncompliance and violation.

“Compliance” is a noun.

“Compliance” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

Compliance is following specific rules, laws or requests set by others, often because you are required to. Conformity is more general, meaning matching your behaviour to a group's norms or expectations, which may be informal and unspoken rather than an explicit rule.

Both mean following rules or instructions. 'Compliance' often carries a sense of obeying an external authority or requirement, sometimes reluctantly. 'Adherence' suggests sticking closely and consistently to a standard, plan or agreement, and is common in medical contexts such as adherence to a treatment.

Compliance is the act of following rules and requirements. Enforcement is the act of making sure others follow them, usually carried out by an authority through checks, penalties or legal action. One is about obeying the rules, the other about upholding them.