accordance

accordance — noun

1. the state of behaving or happening in a way that matches a rule, an instruction,

1.nounC1
Definition

the state of behaving or happening in a way that matches a rule, an instruction, or what someone has asked for, used to show that an action follows the proper standard.

Example

The factory disposes of waste in accordance with the new environmental laws.

in accordance with + law/rule

Mr. Lin's funeral was held in accordance with his family's traditions.

in accordance with + wishes/tradition

Common collocations
  • in strict accordance with
  • in full accordance with
  • bring something into accordance with
  • act in accordance with
Synonyms
  • conformity

    more abstract; often used with 'with' or 'to' and stresses matching a standard

  • compliance

    stresses obeying rules, especially legal or corporate ones

  • agreement

    wider meaning; can describe people, ideas, or facts matching, not only rules

Antonyms
  • violation

    breaking a rule rather than following it

  • breach

    formal; failure to follow a contract, law, or duty

Grammar Patterns

in accordance with + noun

Usage Note

Almost never appears alone; learners should treat 'in accordance with' as a fixed formal phrase. Common in legal documents, contracts, official notices, and instruction manuals. Avoid in casual conversation, where 'following' or 'in line with' sounds more natural.

Common Mistakes

I cleaned the room in accordance to my mother.
I cleaned the room in accordance with my mother's wishes.
the preposition is always 'with', never 'to'.
Please act on accordance with the rules.
Please act in accordance with the rules.
the fixed phrase begins with 'in', not 'on'.
Idioms

in accordance with

idiom

used before a noun to say that what is done follows a rule, plan, request, or standard exactly as it should.

The judge ruled in accordance with the country's labor law.

Maria arranged the bookshelves in accordance with her grandmother's instructions.

in accordance with something

idiom

Following a rule, law, or someone's instructions.

The school must operate in accordance with government safety rules.

Did you prepare the report in accordance with the manager's guidelines?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a match between an action and a standard, but they are not interchangeable. 'Accordance' is the most formal and almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'in accordance with', common in legal or official writing: 'in accordance with the contract'. 'Compliance' focuses on the act of obeying rules, especially in business or law: 'compliance with safety regulations'. 'Conformity' suggests matching an expected pattern, often social: 'social conformity among teenagers'. 'Agreement' is the broadest and least formal, covering matching opinions, statements, or facts: 'their stories were in agreement'. A useful test: 'in accordance with' fits laws and instructions; 'compliance with' fits regulations being checked; 'in agreement with' fits people or ideas.

accordance ↗compliance ↗conformityagreement ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in accordance with
  • bring into accordance with
  • act in accordance with
  • in strict accordance with

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinVulgar LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word entered English in the 14th century from Old French 'acordance', meaning agreement or harmony, formed from the verb 'acorder' ('to bring to agreement'). That French verb came from Vulgar Latin 'accordare', built from Latin 'ad-' ('to, toward') and 'cor' / 'cordis' ('heart'). The original idea was 'bringing hearts together', which over time narrowed to mean matching a rule or wish, the formal sense kept alive today in 'in accordance with'.