compartmentalize
Separate things into distinct sections or categories
Examples
In a meeting
“I compartmentalize work and personal life to maintain better balance.”
Over coffee
“You need to compartmentalize your feelings about this and focus on the facts.”
Why this word
separate
compartmentalize means to divide into distinct isolated sections, while separate simply means to keep apart without implying rigid boundaries
partition
compartmentalize emphasizes mental or organizational separation into isolated units, while partition focuses on physical or formal division
isolate
compartmentalize means to separate into multiple distinct compartments, while isolate focuses on separating one thing from others
Usage tip
Use when discussing mental or physical separation of different areas or concerns
Etymology
Latin: com- (with) + partiri (divide)
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Related words
aggregate
To collect or combine separate items into a single total or group.
delineate
To describe or outline something precisely and clearly.
categorize
Place things into groups based on shared characteristics
unify
To bring together into a single whole or system
partition
To divide into separate sections or parts
isolate
To separate from others or identify as distinct