Compartmentalized: meaning, definitions and examples

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compartmentalized

 

[ kəmˌpɑːrtˈmɛntəlaɪzd ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

organization

Divided into sections or categories. Tending to separate different aspects of one's life or work into distinct compartments.

Synonyms

divided, segmented, separated.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
compartmentalized

Used when talking about organizing or dividing something into separate sections, especially in a mental or abstract sense.

  • His work and personal life were carefully compartmentalized.
  • She compartmentalized her emotions to cope with the stress.
separated

Used when something is disconnected or set apart from something else, often indicating a physical or emotional distance.

  • The two friends were separated by the war.
  • The twins were separated at birth.
divided

Generally used when something is split into parts or sections, often used for both physical and abstract separation.

  • The land was divided into several smaller plots.
  • The group's opinions were sharply divided on the issue.
segmented

Typically used when something is divided into clearly defined parts or segments, often in a more technical or scientific context.

  • The market is segmented by age and income.
  • The worm's body is segmented into multiple rings.

Examples of usage

  • Her compartmentalized approach to work allowed her to focus on one task at a time.
  • He found it difficult to balance his personal and professional life due to his compartmentalized mindset.
Context #2 | Verb

psychology

To divide into sections or categories in order to cope with or manage conflicting or overwhelming emotions or situations.

Synonyms

partition, segregate, separate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
compartmentalized

This word is used when talking about organizing or categorizing information, tasks, or areas into distinct sections, especially to increase efficiency or manageability.

  • In order to be more productive, she compartmentalized her day into specific tasks.
  • His memory is so compartmentalized that he can easily switch between different topics without getting confused.
segregate

Often used when discussing the enforced separation of different groups of people, especially with historical or social connotations. It usually has a negative connotation.

  • During the 20th century, many countries faced the controversial issue of racial segregation.
  • The new laws were designed to prevent any attempts to segregate students based on their backgrounds.
separate

Used in both physical and abstract contexts to indicate dividing one thing from another, without any specific emphasis on how it is done.

  • Please separate the recyclables from the rest of the trash.
  • They eventually decided it was best to separate and live their own lives.
partition

Typically used in the context of physically or logically dividing space, especially rooms, areas, or hard drives.

  • They decided to partition the office to create separate workspaces for different teams.
  • He partitioned his hard drive to have multiple operating systems installed.

Examples of usage

  • She compartmentalized her feelings about the breakup in order to focus on her studies.
  • He compartmentalized the stress from work by immersing himself in a hobby.

Translations

Translations of the word "compartmentalized" in other languages:

🇵🇹 compartimentado

🇮🇳 विभाजित

🇩🇪 aufgeteilt

🇮🇩 terkotak-kotak

🇺🇦 розділений на відсіки

🇵🇱 podzielony na przedziały

🇯🇵 区分された

🇫🇷 compartimenté

🇪🇸 compartimentado

🇹🇷 bölümlere ayrılmış

🇰🇷 분할된

🇸🇦 مجزأ

🇨🇿 rozdělený na oddíly

🇸🇰 rozdelený na oddiely

🇨🇳 分隔开的

🇸🇮 razdeljen na oddelke

🇮🇸 skipulegaður

🇰🇿 бөліктендірілген

🇬🇪 განყოფილებული

🇦🇿 bölmələrə ayrılmış

🇲🇽 compartimentado

Etymology

The word 'compartmentalized' originates from the noun 'compartment,' which first appeared in the 17th century and referred to a separate section or part of a larger space. The verb 'compartmentalize' was derived from this noun and became popular in the early 20th century, particularly in fields like psychology and organizational management. The concept of compartmentalization is often used to describe the practice of separating different aspects of one's life or emotions in order to manage them more effectively.

See also: compartmentalization, compartmentalizers.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,944, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.