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

What used to be a huge open space is now compartmentalized with gorgeous, serene and more intimate indoor/outdoor spaces – including a garden area with a massive grass wall, waterfalls and ponds. —Scott Kramer, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024

As with many victims of trauma, she’s been able to compartmentalize a lot of it. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2024

Nine days after Doug’s death, Kyle had to try and compartmentalize and take the mat at the Olympic trials. —Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 8 Aug. 2024

Moscow thus aimed to compartmentalize détente, hoping that a series of bilateral contacts in Europe would break the Atlantic alliance’s cohesion. —Niall Ferguson, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above