kəmˈplīən(t)s noun
( -s )
Etymology: comply + -ance
1. obsolete
a. : civility
b. : friendly or happy agreement : harmony , concord
compliance between man and wife
2.
a. : the act or action of yielding to pressure, demand, or coercion : conformance
the Counter Reformation was not a compliance with Reform but a defiance of it — H.R.Trevor-Roper
b. : inclination or readiness to yield to the demands of others often in a servile or spineless fashion
worthy men may be rejected because of their very virtues and unworthy men selected because of their compliance — P.H.Douglas
3. : the quality or state of yielding to bending under stresses within the elastic limit ; also : the amount of displacement per unit of applied force
4.
a. : conformity in fulfilling formal or official requirements
a letter written in compliance with United States Army style
the … provision was designed to tighten compliance with acreage allotments — Wall Street Journal
b. : cooperation promoted by official or legal authority or conforming to official or legal norms
cheerful, spontaneous cooperation and compliance to orders are results of proper discipline under a respected leader — A.A.Ageton
an official oath of compliance with the statute — Florence Mishnun
insure the compliance of all … nations — U.N. Disarmament Commission Resolution