Compliant

Compliant is an adjective meaning disposed to comply or conforming to a rule, standard, or request. In legal and regulatory contexts, objects, organizations, or individuals described as compliant meet specified requirements and can be subject to audits or verification. In mechanical or technical contexts, a device or system is considered compliant when it adheres to relevant specifications or interoperability standards.

Compliant derives from comply, from Old French complir, from Latin complere. The sense of fulfilling a request or obligation is longstanding, while the modern term emphasizes conformity to rules or standards.

Common uses include regulatory compliance (compliant with safety, environmental, or data protection rules), industry standards (PCI DSS, ISO 9001), and software or hardware interoperability (a 'PCI-compliant' system). In medicine and health, "compliant" or "adherent" describes patients' or clients' adherence to prescribed regimens; in contemporary practice, "adherence" is often preferred to avoid implying passivity.

Terms like "noncompliant" describe failure to comply; some contexts use "compliance" or "conformance" as nouns or to indicate a program designed to ensure adherence. The tone may vary: "'compliant' may imply formal conformity more than voluntary cooperation."