compression
noun
com·pres·sion
kəm-ˈpre-shən 
1
a
: the act, process, or result of compressing
b
: the state of being compressed
2
: the process of compressing the fuel mixture in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine (as in an automobile)
3
: the compressed remains of a fossil plant
4
: conversion (as of data, a data file, or a communications signal) in order to reduce the space occupied or bandwidth required
Examples of compression in a Sentence
the compression of a long, complicated story into a two-hour movie is never easy
Recent Examples on the Web
Margins tightened under price compression.
—
Sara Payan, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2026
To make matters worse, air sinks in such heat domes and can warm even more due to something called adiabatic compression.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Analysts on the company's quarterly call Tuesday were concerned about lackluster growth internationally and margin compression that was more in line with competitors.
—Michael Wayland, CNBC, 26 May 2026
At the rear, there’s a KYB shock with a 50-mm piston with high- and low-speed compression adjustment, rebound adjustment, and adjustable preload.
—New Atlas, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for compression
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Sara Payan, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2026
To make matters worse, air sinks in such heat domes and can warm even more due to something called adiabatic compression.
—Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Analysts on the company's quarterly call Tuesday were concerned about lackluster growth internationally and margin compression that was more in line with competitors.
—Michael Wayland, CNBC, 26 May 2026
At the rear, there’s a KYB shock with a 50-mm piston with high- and low-speed compression adjustment, rebound adjustment, and adjustable preload.
—New Atlas, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for compression
Cite this Entry
“Compression.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compression. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compression
noun
com·pres·sion
kəm-ˈpresh-ən
1
: the act, process, or result of compressing : the state of being compressed
2
: the process of compressing the fuel mixture in the cylinders of an internal-combustion engine
Medical Definition
compression
noun
com·pres·sion
kəm-ˈpresh-ən
: the act, process, or result of compressing especially when involving a compressing force on a bodily part
compression of an artery by forceps
compression of the brain by the bones of a depressed fracture
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