compartmentalize

verb

com·​part·​men·​tal·​ize kəm-ˌpärt-ˈmen-tə-ˌlīz 

ˌkäm-

compartmentalized; compartmentalizing

transitive verb

: to separate into isolated compartments or categories

compartmentalization

kəm-ˌpärt-ˌmen-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌkäm-

noun

Synonyms

• assort
• break down
• categorize
• class
• classify
• codify
• compartment
• digest
• distinguish
• distribute
• grade
• group
• peg
• place
• range
• rank
• relegate
• separate
• sort
• type

Examples of compartmentalize in a Sentence

He compartmentalizes his life by keeping his job and his personal life separate.

The company has compartmentalized its services.

Recent Examples on the Web

Misty is not doing well with the grief and guilt, but Shauna (Lynskey), Tai (Cypress) and Van (Lauren Ambrose) have managed to compartmentalize and move on. —Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025

Pines describes having tunnel vision, needing to compartmentalize his feelings in order to soldier on with his job. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025

The theme of compartmentalizing what’s been happening off the field has been common in the A’s clubhouse the last few seasons. —Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 7 Jan. 2025

Many of them have severed to escape some aspect of their lives; the series gradually builds into a parable about the dangers of compartmentalizing anguish. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above