compromise
Loading your saved state.
compromise
An agreement between two or more parties in which each side gives up part of its original demands in order to find a common solution.
Nach langen Verhandlungen fanden die Parteien einen Kompromiss.
After long negotiations, the parties found a compromise.
A compromise is the result of a negotiation. Therefore, it is often used with verbs that describe this process, e.g., 'einen Kompromiss finden' (to find a compromise), 'einen Kompromiss schließen' (to reach a compromise), or 'einen Kompromiss aushandeln' (to negotiate a compromise).
Die beiden Parteien konnten lange keinen Kompromiss finden.
The two parties could not find a compromise for a long time.
To name the parties involved, the preposition 'zwischen' (between) + dative is almost always used. The structure is: 'ein Kompromiss zwischen [party A] und [party B]' (a compromise between [party A] and [party B]).
Der Kompromiss zwischen der Regierung und den Gewerkschaften war schwierig.
The compromise between the government and the unions was difficult.
A person who is willing to make a compromise is called 'kompromissbereit' (willing to compromise). This adjective is very useful for describing a person's attitude in negotiations.
Mein Kollege ist sehr stur, er ist überhaupt nicht kompromissbereit.
My colleague is very stubborn; he is not at all willing to compromise.
comparison / settlement
'der Vergleich' (settlement) and 'der Kompromiss' (compromise) can both describe a solution that stops a dispute from continuing. 'der Kompromiss' emphasizes that each side gives something up. The word fits many everyday situations, for example in the family or at work. In this meaning, 'der Vergleich' is mainly a legal term: two parties reach an agreement, often in court, without a verdict being issued. Learners may confuse the words because a settlement often works like a compromise. But 'Kompromiss' says more about mutual concessions, while 'Vergleich' says more about the legal form of the agreement.
Wegen der knappen Zeit machen wir einen Kompromiss und treffen uns nur eine Stunde.
Because time is short, we make a compromise and meet for only one hour.
Der Anwalt rät zu einem Vergleich, weil ein Prozess sehr teuer wäre.
The lawyer recommends a settlement because a trial would be very expensive.