What does compromised mean?
'Compromised' is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'compromise', and it carries two principal strands of meaning that share a single history. In its older sense, it describes the act of settling a dispute by mutual concession: if two parties compromised, each agreed to give up part of what it wanted in order to reach an acceptable outcome. Over time, a second, more negative sense developed: to compromise something is to weaken, damage, or expose it — as when a system's security is compromised by hackers, a patient's health is described as having a compromised immune system, or a person's principles are said to be compromised under pressure. This dual character makes the word notably versatile: in negotiation it can suggest pragmatism and cooperation, while in discussions of safety, privacy, or integrity it signals vulnerability or failure. It appears constantly in journalism, computing, medicine, and everyday speech, and its noun form 'compromise' remains one of the most familiar words in political and personal life alike.
Settled a difference or dispute by mutual concession; or weakened, endangered, or exposed something to risk.
"She compromised her standards by accepting the flawed report."
In security and medical contexts the negative sense dominates; in negotiation contexts the sense of mutual settlement is primary.
Describing something that has been weakened, damaged, or made vulnerable.
"The patient had a compromised immune system following chemotherapy."
Common as a premodifier, especially in medical and cybersecurity language ('a compromised account').
The word for settling a disagreement and the word for a hacked password come from the same idea: both sides give up something — and once it's compromised, you can't take it back.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of compromised
'Compromise' entered English in the early 15th century via French from medieval Latin 'compromissum', meaning an agreement to submit a dispute to arbitration, formed from Latin 'com-' (together) and 'promittere' (to promise). The original sense was therefore bound to mutual undertaking: both sides promised to accept a settlement. From this legal notion of binding agreement came the modern senses of mutual concession and, later, of exposing or weakening something. The word shares its root 'mittere/promittere' with 'promise', 'promissory', and, more distantly, words built on Latin 'mittere' such as 'mission' and 'missile'.
Related word forms
How compromised is actually used
Neutral in register and common in both formal and everyday contexts. In security and medical language ('compromised immune system'), the word carries a strongly negative connotation of vulnerability, whereas in negotiation contexts it can be neutral or even positive, suggesting flexibility and goodwill.
Easily confused with compromised
'Promised' means gave one's word to do something, while 'compromised' means settled by concession or weakened/exposed something.