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compatibility

compatibility

29 4.0
The ability of two things to work together without problems
  • noun
  • /kəmˌpætəˈbɪləti/
translation icon : compatibilidad
  • The compatibility of her dietary restrictions with the restaurant's menu made their dinner plans easier.
  • ensure compatibility
  • compatibility issue
  • maintain compatibility

And we had sort of in the past, we had always taken backwards compatibility very seriously.

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Examples

  • The operation of the Internet depends on clear, strict compatibility, connectivity, and communications standards.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Urech said another benefit of Manta is its compatibility with commercial database management systems.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Notice that we have full compatibility along this side.

  • Just, you know, compatibility issues.

  • Because compatibility is just one layer of it.

  • But compatibility is a relative term.

  • There is also the issue of compatibility of the file format with the "platform" of a particular computer.

    Academic text (1999)
  • And we had sort of in the past, we had always taken backwards compatibility very seriously.

  • Aesthetics and physical compatibility are key considerations as well.

  • Panels about homecare quality emphasized the importance of compatibility between the worker and client as a goal of homecare.

    Academic text (1994)

Synonyms

harmony
vscompatibility
146 2.5

Agreement and peaceful working together between people or ideas

describes neutral ability to coexist or work together without focusing on pleasantness
interoperability
vscompatibility
  • Specialized
8 6.5

Different computers or devices work together and share data

applies broadly to any things coexisting or working together without conflict
compossibility
vscompatibility
  • Formal
9.9

A situation where things can exist together without conflict

focuses on actual ability to exist or work together without problems

Antonyms

A situation where two things cannot work or live together without problems

How Compatible

harmony
146 2.5
agreement
361 1.0
compatibility
29 4.0
to mismatch
13 4.2

Surface Forms

compatibility singular

Morphology

compatibility = compatible (transparent) = compatible + ity

The noun is a straightforward nominalization of the adjective 'compatible' with the productive suffix '-ity' expressing a state or quality.

Etymology

Compatibility comes from the parts com- meaning 'together' and the root pati meaning 'to endure', the same root you see in patient. So, when two things have compatibility they can 'endure together' — that is, work or exist together without problems.