1. submission to the demands, wishes, or suggestions of others. See also conformity.

2. a change in a person’s behavior in response to a direct request. A variety of techniques have been developed to enhance compliance with requests. Although some techniques may enhance compliance by producing attitude change, behavioral change is the primary goal of these techniques. See disrupt-then-reframe technique; door-in-the-face technique; foot-in-the-door technique; low-ball technique; that’s-not-all technique.

3. in pharmacotherapy, see adherence.

4. in safety engineering, adherence to workplace codes or guidelines designed to enforce safe behaviors and exclude behaviors that increase the risk of injury or illness. Compliance is the end goal of workplace attempts to train or warn employees exposed to hazards. —compliant adj. —comply vb.