com·pact
kəm-ˈpakt 
käm-ˈpakt,
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
2
a
: having a dense structure or parts or units closely packed or joined
a compact woolen
compact bone
b
: not diffuse or verbose
a compact statement
c
: occupying a small volume by reason of efficient use of space
a compact camera
a compact formation of troops
d
: short-bodied, solid, and without excess flesh
He had a small, compact body that looked full of life.—
D. H. Lawrence
D. H. Lawrence3
: being a topological space and especially a metric space with the property that for any collection of open sets which contains it there is a subset of the collection with a finite number of elements which also contains it
compacted; compacting; compacts
1
: to make up by connecting or combining : compose
: to become compacted
com·pact
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
: something that is compact or compacted:
a
: a small cosmetic case (as for compressed powder)
b
: an automobile smaller than an intermediate but larger than a subcompact
com·pact
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
: an agreement or covenant between two or more parties
com·pac·tor
variants
or compacter
kəm-ˈpak-tər
(ˈ)käm-¦pak-
plural -s
: one that compacts
specifically
: a machine (as one having a roller or a vibrating tamper) for crushing or compacting material (as in preparing a seedbed or roadbed)
Examples of compact in a Sentence
Adjective
The drill has a compact design.
the apartment's compact floor plan
The cabin was compact but perfectly adequate.
He is compact and muscular.
He has a compact body.
Verb
The snow had compacted into a hard icy layer.
the media giant decided to compact all of its far-flung operations onto a single site
Noun (2)
a five-nation compact to control drug traffic
the two made a compact never to artificially prolong the other's life in the event of incapacitating illness or injury
Recent Examples on the Web
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
Cabins are compact and expedition-style, though select rooms can sleep three or four.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Choose a Direction Mowing in the same rows every session compacts the soil.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 June 2026
Allen Best, Denver Post, 14 June 2026
Under a compact of free association, the Inuit state would retain complete domestic sovereignty, cultural autonomy, and control over its natural resources.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for compact
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Adjective
Reactor with historic roots Aurora differs from traditional nuclear plants through its fast neutron reactor design and compact architecture.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 June 2026
Cabins are compact and expedition-style, though select rooms can sleep three or four.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Verb
Use the Best Soil and Plant Properly Ferns detest compacted, heavy soil that can lead to root rot if the plant is overwatered.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
Choose a Direction Mowing in the same rows every session compacts the soil.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 June 2026
Noun
Created by state legislators in 2004, the district was tasked with keeping Colorado compliant with the compact.
—Allen Best, Denver Post, 14 June 2026
Under a compact of free association, the Inuit state would retain complete domestic sovereignty, cultural autonomy, and control over its natural resources.
—Barry Scott Zellen, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for compact
Cite this Entry
“Compact.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compact. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compact
2 of 4 verb1
: to draw together : combine, consolidate
2
: to make or become compact : compress
compact
3 of 4 noun
com·pact
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
1
: a small cosmetic case
2
: a somewhat small automobile
compact
4 of 4 noun
com·pact
ˈkäm-ˌpakt
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English compact "firmly put together," from Latin compactus (same meaning), from compingere "to join," from com- "together" and pangere "to fasten"
Noun
from Latin compactum "agreement," derived from compacisci "to make an agreement," from com- "with, together" and pacisci "to agree"
Medical Definition
: having a dense structure without small cavities or cells
compact bone
compare cancellous
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