Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense compartmentalizes, present participle compartmentalizing, past tense, past participle compartmentalizedregional note: in BRIT, also use compartmentalise
verb
To compartmentalize something means to divide it into separate sections.
Some people compartmentalize their lives and don't mix their personal and professionalpursuits. [VERB noun]
[Also VERB noun + into]
Synonyms: categorize or categorise, classify, pigeonhole, sectionalize or sectionalise More Synonyms of compartmentalize
compartmentalizedadjective
...the compartmentalised world of Japanese finance.
compartmentalize in British English
or compartmentalise (ˌkɒmpɑːtˈmɛntəˌlaɪz)
verb
(usually tr)
to put or divide into (compartments, categories, etc), esp to an excessive degree
Derived forms
compartmentalization (ˌcompartˌmentaliˈzation) or compartmentalisation (ˌcompartˌmentaliˈsation)
noun
compartmentalize in American English
(ˌkɑmpɑrtˈmɛntəlˌaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: comˌpartˈmentalˌized or comˌpartˈmentalˌizing
to put or separate into detached compartments, divisions, or categories
Derived forms
compartmentalization (ˌcompartˌmentaliˈzation)
noun
Examples of 'compartmentalize' in a sentence
compartmentalize
Terry's got a remarkable ability to compartmentalize things.
Peter Robinson AFTERMATH (2001)
(verb)
Definition
to put into categories or sections
It is impossible for people to fully compartmentalize their lives.
Synonyms
categorize or categorise
classify
Rocks can be classified according to their mode of origin.
pigeonhole
I don't want to be pigeonholed as a kids' presenter.
sectionalize or sectionalise
Additional synonyms
in the sense of classify
Definition
to arrange or order by classes
Rocks can be classified according to their mode of origin.
Synonyms
categorize,
sort,
file,
rank,
arrange,
grade,
catalogue,
codify,
pigeonhole,
tabulate,
systematize
in the sense of pigeonhole
Definition
to classify or categorize
I don't want to be pigeonholed as a kids' presenter.