diff --git a/.changeset/adr-0085-semantic-roles.md b/.changeset/adr-0085-semantic-roles.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e2505183ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/adr-0085-semantic-roles.md
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+'@objectstack/spec': minor
+'@objectstack/lint': minor
+'@objectstack/cli': patch
+'@objectstack/platform-objects': patch
+---
+
+ADR-0085: object presentation intent is declared as cross-surface semantic
+roles, never as per-surface hint blocks.
+
+**@objectstack/spec**
+
+- New top-level `stageField: string | false` — names the object's linear
+  lifecycle field (`false` declares the status-like field non-linear and
+  suppresses every consumer's stage heuristics). Legitimizes the key the UI
+  runtime already read but the schema rejected.
+- `compactLayout` → **`highlightFields`** (the value is an ordered field
+  list, not a layout; "highlight" is already the renderer-side term of art).
+  `compactLayout` stays accepted as a parse-time alias and is preserved on
+  output — the ADR-0079 `displayNameField → nameField` pattern.
+- `fieldGroups[].collapse: 'none' | 'expanded' | 'collapsed'` replaces
+  `defaultExpanded` AND the UI-dialect `collapsible`/`collapsed` boolean pair
+  (which had drifted two ways: spec declared a key no renderer read, renderers
+  read keys the spec rejected). Old keys map onto the enum at parse and remain
+  accepted for one minor.
+- `fieldGroups[].visibleOn` removed (no consumer anywhere — ADR-0049
+  enforce-or-remove; re-add together with its enforcement when a surface
+  evaluates it).
+- The `detail: { … }.passthrough()` UI-hints block is **removed**. Every key
+  in it was either unauthorable, a proven no-op for spec authors
+  (`hideReferenceRail` — the rail is default-off and its enabling key was
+  never typed), or a per-page toggle that belongs to an assigned Page. Zero
+  authors existed across framework and objectui (evidence in ADR-0085); the
+  removal ships as a minor under the documented dead-surface exception
+  (PR #2272 precedent).
+- New `deriveFieldGroupLayout(def)` in `@objectstack/spec/data` — the single
+  source of the fieldGroups rendering semantics (declared order, empty groups
+  dropped, ungrouped trailing bucket minus audit/system fields, collapse
+  passthrough incl. deprecated aliases). UI renderers consume this instead of
+  their two pre-existing near-identical local copies.
+
+**@objectstack/lint / @objectstack/cli**
+
+- New `validateSemanticRoles` (wired into `os lint`): warns on
+  `Field.group` → undeclared group, declared-but-unreferenced groups, and
+  `stageField`/`highlightFields` entries naming non-existent fields — the
+  dangling-pointer shapes that are Zod-valid but silently inert at render
+  time (ADR-0078 completeness gate).
+
+**@objectstack/platform-objects**
+
+- All 35 system objects renamed `compactLayout:` → `highlightFields:`
+  (behaviour unchanged via the alias).
diff --git a/content/docs/guides/data-modeling.mdx b/content/docs/guides/data-modeling.mdx
index a53198a4f1..531432d985 100644
--- a/content/docs/guides/data-modeling.mdx
+++ b/content/docs/guides/data-modeling.mdx
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export const MyObject = ObjectSchema.create({
   
   // Display configuration
   titleFormat: '{{record.field1}} - {{record.field2}}',
-  compactLayout: ['field1', 'field2', 'field3'],
+  highlightFields: ['field1', 'field2', 'field3'],
   
   // Fields definition
   fields: {
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export const MyObject = ObjectSchema.create({
 | `icon` | string | Icon identifier | `'building'` |
 | `description` | string | Help text | `'Companies...'` |
 | `titleFormat` | string | Record title template (`{{record.field}}` interpolation) | `'{{record.name}} - {{record.id}}'` |
-| `compactLayout` | string[] | Quick view fields | `['name', 'status']` |
+| `highlightFields` | string[] | Most-important fields, in priority order (default columns, cards, previews, detail highlight strip; ADR-0085 — formerly `compactLayout`, still accepted as an alias) | `['name', 'status']` |
 
 ### Enable Features
 
diff --git a/content/docs/guides/metadata/object.mdx b/content/docs/guides/metadata/object.mdx
index 2fdbc45947..a7e5ef8395 100644
--- a/content/docs/guides/metadata/object.mdx
+++ b/content/docs/guides/metadata/object.mdx
@@ -68,7 +68,8 @@ export const Account = ObjectSchema.create({
 | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
 | `displayNameField` | `string` | optional | Field used as record display name (defaults to `'name'`) |
 | `titleFormat` | `string` | optional | Title expression (e.g. `'{name} - {code}'`) |
-| `compactLayout` | `string[]` | optional | Primary fields for hover cards and lookups |
+| `highlightFields` | `string[]` | optional | Most-important fields in priority order — default list columns, cards, previews, detail highlight strip (ADR-0085; formerly `compactLayout`, accepted as an alias) |
+| `stageField` | `string \| false` | optional | Linear lifecycle field; `false` declares the status field non-linear and suppresses stage heuristics (ADR-0085) |
 | `recordName` | `object` | optional | Record name auto-generation config |
 
 ### Capabilities (`enable`)
diff --git a/content/docs/guides/standards.mdx b/content/docs/guides/standards.mdx
index 8a56b20e44..57857b7701 100644
--- a/content/docs/guides/standards.mdx
+++ b/content/docs/guides/standards.mdx
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ export const MyObject = ObjectSchema.create({
   
   // ✅ Display Configuration
   titleFormat: '{field1} - {field2}',
-  compactLayout: ['field1', 'field2', 'field3'],
+  highlightFields: ['field1', 'field2', 'field3'],
   
   // ✅ Fields Definition
   fields: {
diff --git a/content/docs/references/ui/component.mdx b/content/docs/references/ui/component.mdx
index 279d759121..8e6b17a972 100644
--- a/content/docs/references/ui/component.mdx
+++ b/content/docs/references/ui/component.mdx
@@ -274,9 +274,9 @@ const result = AIChatWindowProps.parse(data);
 | Property | Type | Required | Description |
 | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
 | **columns** | `Enum<'1' \| '2' \| '3' \| '4'>` | ✅ | Number of columns for field layout (1-4) |
-| **layout** | `Enum<'auto' \| 'custom'>` | ✅ | Layout mode: auto uses object compactLayout, custom uses explicit sections |
+| **layout** | `Enum<'auto' \| 'custom'>` | ✅ | Layout mode: auto uses object highlightFields (formerly compactLayout), custom uses explicit sections |
 | **sections** | `string[]` | optional | Section IDs to show (required when layout is "custom") |
-| **fields** | `string[]` | optional | Explicit field list to display (optional, overrides compactLayout) |
+| **fields** | `string[]` | optional | Explicit field list to display (optional, overrides highlightFields) |
 | **aria** | `Object` | optional | ARIA accessibility attributes |
 
 
diff --git a/examples/app-todo/src/objects/task.object.ts b/examples/app-todo/src/objects/task.object.ts
index a38fd4665f..e209a97408 100644
--- a/examples/app-todo/src/objects/task.object.ts
+++ b/examples/app-todo/src/objects/task.object.ts
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ export const Task = ObjectSchema.create({
   ],
   
   nameField: 'subject',
-  compactLayout: ['subject', 'status', 'priority', 'due_date', 'owner'],
+  highlightFields: ['subject', 'status', 'priority', 'due_date', 'owner'],
   
   validations: [
     {
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/lint.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/lint.ts
index 73dc23a662..42d6652146 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/lint.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/lint.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { loadConfig, BUNDLE_REQUIRE_EXTERNALS } from '../utils/config.js';
 import { computeI18nCoverage } from '../utils/i18n-coverage.js';
 import { lintDataModel } from '../lint/data-model-rules.js';
 import { validateWidgetBindings } from '@objectstack/lint';
-import { validateRecordTitle } from '@objectstack/lint';
+import { validateRecordTitle, validateSemanticRoles } from '@objectstack/lint';
 import { collectAndLintDocs } from '../utils/collect-docs.js';
 import { scoreMetadata } from '../lint/score.js';
 import { runMetadataEval } from '../lint/metadata-eval.js';
@@ -322,6 +322,21 @@ export function lintConfig(config: any): LintIssue[] {
     });
   }
 
+  // ── Semantic-role pointers (ADR-0085) ──
+  // stageField / highlightFields / Field.group are pointers into the object's
+  // field map; a dangling pointer is Zod-valid but silently inert at render
+  // time (the ADR-0078 completeness gate). All advisory — every consumer
+  // degrades gracefully.
+  for (const t of validateSemanticRoles(config)) {
+    issues.push({
+      severity: t.severity,
+      rule: t.rule,
+      message: `${t.where}: ${t.message}`,
+      path: t.path,
+      fix: t.hint,
+    });
+  }
+
   return issues;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/dogfood/test/expression-conformance.ledger.ts b/packages/dogfood/test/expression-conformance.ledger.ts
index 93b00c8d0f..f1afb5bc76 100644
--- a/packages/dogfood/test/expression-conformance.ledger.ts
+++ b/packages/dogfood/test/expression-conformance.ledger.ts
@@ -108,7 +108,10 @@ export const EXPRESSION_SURFACE: ExprSurface[] = [
     dialect: 'cel', mode: 'interpret', state: 'enforced', failPolicy: 'fail-soft-log',
     enforcement: 'console (objectui) SchemaRenderer + server celEngine (interpret)',
     covers: [
-      'data/object.zod.ts:visibleOn',
+      // data/object.zod.ts:visibleOn (fieldGroups group-level CEL visibility)
+      // was removed by ADR-0085 §3 — declared but never consumed anywhere
+      // (enforce-or-remove, ADR-0049). Re-add the row when the key returns
+      // WITH an enforcement path.
       'ui/action.zod.ts:visible',
       'ui/app.zod.ts:visible',
       'ui/page.zod.ts:visibility',
diff --git a/packages/lint/src/index.ts b/packages/lint/src/index.ts
index 1881525c6c..bf9226ab1f 100644
--- a/packages/lint/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/lint/src/index.ts
@@ -50,3 +50,11 @@ export {
   TITLE_UNRESOLVABLE,
 } from './validate-record-title.js';
 export type { RecordTitleFinding, RecordTitleSeverity } from './validate-record-title.js';
+
+export {
+  validateSemanticRoles,
+  FIELD_GROUP_UNDECLARED,
+  FIELD_GROUP_EMPTY,
+  SEMANTIC_ROLE_FIELD_UNKNOWN,
+} from './validate-semantic-roles.js';
+export type { SemanticRoleFinding, SemanticRoleSeverity } from './validate-semantic-roles.js';
diff --git a/packages/lint/src/validate-semantic-roles.test.ts b/packages/lint/src/validate-semantic-roles.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d9c82f9f70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/lint/src/validate-semantic-roles.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 ObjectStack. Licensed under the Apache-2.0 license.
+
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import {
+  validateSemanticRoles,
+  FIELD_GROUP_UNDECLARED,
+  FIELD_GROUP_EMPTY,
+  SEMANTIC_ROLE_FIELD_UNKNOWN,
+} from './validate-semantic-roles';
+
+const stack = (objects: unknown) => ({ objects });
+
+describe('validateSemanticRoles (ADR-0085)', () => {
+  it('passes a clean object', () => {
+    const findings = validateSemanticRoles(stack([{
+      name: 'account',
+      stageField: 'status',
+      highlightFields: ['name', 'status'],
+      fieldGroups: [{ key: 'basic', label: 'Basic' }],
+      fields: {
+        name: { type: 'text', group: 'basic' },
+        status: { type: 'select' },
+      },
+    }]));
+    expect(findings).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('flags a Field.group referencing an undeclared group', () => {
+    const findings = validateSemanticRoles(stack([{
+      name: 'account',
+      fieldGroups: [{ key: 'basic', label: 'Basic' }],
+      fields: {
+        name: { type: 'text', group: 'basic' },
+        vat: { type: 'text', group: 'billling' }, // typo
+      },
+    }]));
+    expect(findings).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(findings[0]).toMatchObject({
+      severity: 'warning',
+      rule: FIELD_GROUP_UNDECLARED,
+      path: 'objects[0].fields.vat.group',
+    });
+    expect(findings[0].message).toContain('billling');
+  });
+
+  it('flags a declared group no field references', () => {
+    const findings = validateSemanticRoles(stack([{
+      name: 'account',
+      fieldGroups: [
+        { key: 'basic', label: 'Basic' },
+        { key: 'unused', label: 'Unused' },
+      ],
+      fields: { name: { type: 'text', group: 'basic' } },
+    }]));
+    expect(findings).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(findings[0]).toMatchObject({ rule: FIELD_GROUP_EMPTY });
+    expect(findings[0].message).toContain('unused');
+  });
+
+  it('flags stageField pointing at a missing field; false is fine', () => {
+    const bad = validateSemanticRoles(stack([{
+      name: 'lead', stageField: 'pipeline', fields: { status: {} },
+    }]));
+    expect(bad).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(bad[0]).toMatchObject({ rule: SEMANTIC_ROLE_FIELD_UNKNOWN, path: 'objects[0].stageField' });
+
+    const optedOut = validateSemanticRoles(stack([{
+      name: 'lead', stageField: false, fields: { status: {} },
+    }]));
+    expect(optedOut).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('flags unknown highlightFields entries, including via the compactLayout alias', () => {
+    const findings = validateSemanticRoles(stack([{
+      name: 'account',
+      highlightFields: ['name', 'industy'], // typo
+      fields: { name: {}, industry: {} },
+    }]));
+    expect(findings).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(findings[0].message).toContain('industy');
+
+    const aliased = validateSemanticRoles(stack([{
+      name: 'account',
+      compactLayout: ['ghost'],
+      fields: { name: {} },
+    }]));
+    expect(aliased).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(aliased[0]).toMatchObject({ rule: SEMANTIC_ROLE_FIELD_UNKNOWN });
+  });
+
+  it('accepts objects as a name-keyed map and tolerates junk shapes', () => {
+    const findings = validateSemanticRoles(stack({
+      account: { stageField: 'nope', fields: {} },
+    }));
+    expect(findings).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(validateSemanticRoles({})).toEqual([]);
+    expect(validateSemanticRoles(stack(null))).toEqual([]);
+    expect(validateSemanticRoles(stack([null, 'junk', 42]))).toEqual([]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/lint/src/validate-semantic-roles.ts b/packages/lint/src/validate-semantic-roles.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bd2b771228
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/lint/src/validate-semantic-roles.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 ObjectStack. Licensed under the Apache-2.0 license.
+
+/**
+ * Build-time semantic-role diagnostics (ADR-0085).
+ *
+ * The object-level semantic roles (`stageField`, `highlightFields` /
+ * deprecated `compactLayout`, `fieldGroups` + `Field.group`) are pointers
+ * into the object's own field map. A dangling pointer is Zod-valid but
+ * silently inert at render time — the exact "parsed, unmarked, silently
+ * inert" shape ADR-0078 prohibits — so the completeness lint flags it here,
+ * uniformly for `os build`/`os validate`, MCP authoring and hand authors.
+ *
+ * All three rules are warnings, not errors: every consumer degrades
+ * gracefully (an unknown `Field.group` renders in the ungrouped bucket, an
+ * unknown highlight name is skipped, an unknown `stageField` falls back to
+ * heuristics), so nothing is fully broken — but the author almost certainly
+ * typo'd a name and should be told at author time, not discover it by
+ * staring at an unchanged page.
+ */
+
+export const FIELD_GROUP_UNDECLARED = 'field-group-undeclared';
+export const FIELD_GROUP_EMPTY = 'field-group-empty';
+export const SEMANTIC_ROLE_FIELD_UNKNOWN = 'semantic-role-field-unknown';
+
+export type SemanticRoleSeverity = 'error' | 'warning';
+
+export interface SemanticRoleFinding {
+  /** Always `warning` today — all three rules are advisory (see module note). */
+  severity: SemanticRoleSeverity;
+  /** Diagnostic rule id, e.g. `field-group-undeclared`. */
+  rule: string;
+  /** Human-readable location, e.g. `object "invoice"`. */
+  where: string;
+  /** Config path, e.g. `objects[3]`. */
+  path: string;
+  /** What is wrong. */
+  message: string;
+  /** How to fix it. */
+  hint: string;
+}
+
+type AnyRec = Record<string, unknown>;
+
+/** Coerce a collection (array or name-keyed map) to an array of records. */
+function asArray(v: unknown): AnyRec[] {
+  if (Array.isArray(v)) return v as AnyRec[];
+  if (v && typeof v === 'object') {
+    return Object.entries(v as AnyRec).map(([name, def]) => ({ name, ...(def as AnyRec) }));
+  }
+  return [];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Validate every object's semantic-role pointers. Returns the list of
+ * findings (empty = clean). Advisory only — the caller must never fail the
+ * build on these alone.
+ */
+export function validateSemanticRoles(stack: AnyRec): SemanticRoleFinding[] {
+  const findings: SemanticRoleFinding[] = [];
+
+  const objects = asArray(stack.objects);
+  for (let i = 0; i < objects.length; i++) {
+    const obj = objects[i];
+    if (!obj || typeof obj !== 'object') continue; // tolerate junk entries
+    const objName = typeof obj.name === 'string' ? obj.name : `(object ${i})`;
+    const where = `object "${objName}"`;
+    const path = `objects[${i}]`;
+
+    const fields = (obj.fields && typeof obj.fields === 'object' && !Array.isArray(obj.fields))
+      ? (obj.fields as Record<string, AnyRec | undefined>)
+      : {};
+    const fieldNames = new Set(Object.keys(fields));
+
+    // ── (a) Field.group → declared fieldGroups[].key ──
+    const declaredGroups = new Set(
+      (Array.isArray(obj.fieldGroups) ? obj.fieldGroups : [])
+        .filter((g): g is AnyRec => !!g && typeof g === 'object')
+        .map((g) => g.key)
+        .filter((k): k is string => typeof k === 'string' && k.length > 0),
+    );
+    const referencedGroups = new Set<string>();
+    for (const [fname, f] of Object.entries(fields)) {
+      const g = f?.group;
+      if (typeof g !== 'string' || g.length === 0) continue;
+      referencedGroups.add(g);
+      if (!declaredGroups.has(g)) {
+        findings.push({
+          severity: 'warning',
+          rule: FIELD_GROUP_UNDECLARED,
+          where,
+          path: `${path}.fields.${fname}.group`,
+          message:
+            `${objName}.${fname}: group "${g}" is not declared in fieldGroups — ` +
+            `the field renders in the ungrouped bucket, not under "${g}"`,
+          hint:
+            `Declare { key: '${g}', label: '…' } in ${objName}.fieldGroups, or fix ` +
+            `the field's group reference. Group keys are snake_case and must match exactly.`,
+        });
+      }
+    }
+
+    // ── (b) declared group no field references ──
+    for (const key of declaredGroups) {
+      if (!referencedGroups.has(key)) {
+        findings.push({
+          severity: 'warning',
+          rule: FIELD_GROUP_EMPTY,
+          where,
+          path: `${path}.fieldGroups`,
+          message:
+            `${objName}: fieldGroups declares "${key}" but no field references it — ` +
+            `the group never renders`,
+          hint:
+            `Assign at least one field via group: '${key}', or remove the unused ` +
+            `group declaration.`,
+        });
+      }
+    }
+
+    // ── (c) semantic-role pointers name real fields ──
+    const stage = obj.stageField;
+    if (typeof stage === 'string' && stage.length > 0 && !fieldNames.has(stage)) {
+      findings.push({
+        severity: 'warning',
+        rule: SEMANTIC_ROLE_FIELD_UNKNOWN,
+        where,
+        path: `${path}.stageField`,
+        message:
+          `${objName}: stageField "${stage}" is not a field on this object — ` +
+          `consumers fall back to heuristic stage detection`,
+        hint:
+          `Point stageField at an existing select/status field, or set ` +
+          `stageField: false to declare the object has no linear lifecycle.`,
+      });
+    }
+
+    const highlights = Array.isArray(obj.highlightFields)
+      ? obj.highlightFields
+      : Array.isArray(obj.compactLayout) // deprecated alias (pre-normalization input)
+        ? obj.compactLayout
+        : [];
+    for (const entry of highlights) {
+      if (typeof entry !== 'string' || entry.length === 0 || fieldNames.has(entry)) continue;
+      findings.push({
+        severity: 'warning',
+        rule: SEMANTIC_ROLE_FIELD_UNKNOWN,
+        where,
+        path: `${path}.highlightFields`,
+        message:
+          `${objName}: highlightFields entry "${entry}" is not a field on this ` +
+          `object — it is silently skipped by every consumer`,
+        hint:
+          `Fix the field name (highlightFields drives default columns, cards, ` +
+          `previews and the detail highlight strip, in order).`,
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  return findings;
+}
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-attachment.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-attachment.object.ts
index beacf5a74b..7d58137dce 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-attachment.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-attachment.object.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export const SysAttachment = ObjectSchema.create({
   managedBy: 'platform',
   description: 'Polymorphic link between a sys_file and any other record',
   titleFormat: '{file_name} → {parent_object}/{parent_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['created_at', 'parent_object', 'file_name', 'mime_type', 'size'],
+  highlightFields: ['created_at', 'parent_object', 'file_name', 'mime_type', 'size'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-email-template.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-email-template.object.ts
index 113076a678..3b70534de1 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-email-template.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-email-template.object.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export const SysEmailTemplate = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'label',
   nameField: 'label', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{label}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'label', 'category', 'locale', 'active'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'label', 'category', 'locale', 'active'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-email.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-email.object.ts
index a9cfbfb91d..72493fff83 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-email.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-email.object.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export const SysEmail = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'subject',
   nameField: 'subject', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{subject}',
-  compactLayout: ['subject', 'to', 'status', 'sent_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['subject', 'to', 'status', 'sent_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-import-job.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-import-job.object.ts
index 55ff63cf59..9d0ea76c22 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-import-job.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-import-job.object.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export const SysImportJob = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'object_name',
   nameField: 'object_name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer
   titleFormat: '{object_name} import @ {created_at}',
-  compactLayout: ['object_name', 'status', 'processed_rows', 'total_rows', 'created_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['object_name', 'status', 'processed_rows', 'total_rows', 'created_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({ label: 'Job ID', required: true, readonly: true, group: 'System' }),
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job-queue.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job-queue.object.ts
index 3e55aec576..830efcd121 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job-queue.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job-queue.object.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export const SysJobQueue = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'queue',
   nameField: 'queue', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{queue} #{id}',
-  compactLayout: ['queue', 'status', 'attempts', 'scheduled_for', 'last_error'],
+  highlightFields: ['queue', 'status', 'attempts', 'scheduled_for', 'last_error'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({ label: 'Message ID', required: true, readonly: true, group: 'System' }),
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job-run.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job-run.object.ts
index dae3eeff5c..75f5af78d9 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job-run.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job-run.object.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export const SysJobRun = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'job_name',
   nameField: 'job_name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{job_name} @ {started_at}',
-  compactLayout: ['job_name', 'status', 'started_at', 'duration_ms', 'attempt'],
+  highlightFields: ['job_name', 'status', 'started_at', 'duration_ms', 'attempt'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({ label: 'Run ID', required: true, readonly: true, group: 'System' }),
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job.object.ts
index 34789680d6..64275db776 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-job.object.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export const SysJob = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'name',
   nameField: 'name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{name}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'schedule_type', 'active', 'last_run_at', 'last_status'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'schedule_type', 'active', 'last_run_at', 'last_status'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({ label: 'Job ID', required: true, readonly: true, group: 'System' }),
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-notification.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-notification.object.ts
index 242fd806ee..1033070611 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-notification.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-notification.object.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export const SysNotification = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'topic',
   nameField: 'topic', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{topic}',
-  compactLayout: ['topic', 'severity', 'source_object', 'created_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['topic', 'severity', 'source_object', 'created_at'],
 
   listViews: {
     recent: {
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-report-schedule.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-report-schedule.object.ts
index 24e1ec7cf3..3fd6a71f22 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-report-schedule.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-report-schedule.object.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export const SysReportSchedule = ObjectSchema.create({
   managedBy: 'platform',
   description: 'Recurring delivery of a sys_saved_report via email',
   titleFormat: '{report_id} → {recipients}',
-  compactLayout: ['report_id', 'recipients', 'interval_minutes', 'active', 'next_run_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['report_id', 'recipients', 'interval_minutes', 'active', 'next_run_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-saved-report.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-saved-report.object.ts
index 9bd4481645..3962207ddf 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-saved-report.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/audit/sys-saved-report.object.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export const SysSavedReport = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'name',
   nameField: 'name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{name}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'object_name', 'format', 'owner_id', 'updated_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'object_name', 'format', 'owner_id', 'updated_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-account.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-account.object.ts
index c979254b30..2aa77cb08e 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-account.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-account.object.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export const SysAccount = ObjectSchema.create({
   },
   description: 'OAuth and authentication provider accounts',
   titleFormat: '{provider_id} - {account_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['provider_id', 'user_id', 'account_id'],
+  highlightFields: ['provider_id', 'user_id', 'account_id'],
 
   // Custom actions — sysadmins routinely need to revoke a user's OAuth
   // link (e.g. when an SSO provider is decommissioned or the user
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-api-key.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-api-key.object.ts
index 8586ff4760..f3a0f59ed9 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-api-key.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-api-key.object.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export const SysApiKey = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'name',
   nameField: 'name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{name}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'prefix', 'user_id', 'expires_at', 'revoked'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'prefix', 'user_id', 'expires_at', 'revoked'],
 
   // Custom actions — sys_api_key is managed-by 'better-auth' but the
   // `revoked` boolean is a column we control via the data API. These row
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-business-unit-member.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-business-unit-member.object.ts
index 342b5eecf8..3337ea158d 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-business-unit-member.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-business-unit-member.object.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export const SysBusinessUnitMember = ObjectSchema.create({
   managedBy: 'platform',
   description: 'User assignment to a business unit (matrix-org friendly, effective-dated).',
   titleFormat: '{user_id} in {business_unit_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['user_id', 'business_unit_id', 'role_in_business_unit', 'is_primary'],
+  highlightFields: ['user_id', 'business_unit_id', 'role_in_business_unit', 'is_primary'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-business-unit.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-business-unit.object.ts
index 2eed6e1193..94b94b75d3 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-business-unit.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-business-unit.object.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export const SysBusinessUnit = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'name',
   nameField: 'name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{name}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'kind', 'parent_business_unit_id', 'manager_user_id'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'kind', 'parent_business_unit_id', 'manager_user_id'],
 
   listViews: {
     // Org chart — the hierarchy view. Surfaces the self-referencing
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-device-code.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-device-code.object.ts
index 7f856a8daa..25857ad495 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-device-code.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-device-code.object.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ export const SysDeviceCode = ObjectSchema.create({
   description: 'OAuth 2.0 Device Authorization Grant (RFC 8628) pending requests',
   nameField: 'user_code', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (single-field titleFormat)
   titleFormat: '{user_code}',
-  compactLayout: ['user_code', 'status', 'client_id', 'expires_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['user_code', 'status', 'client_id', 'expires_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-invitation.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-invitation.object.ts
index 74e5d26ca1..31bf7b6d82 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-invitation.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-invitation.object.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export const SysInvitation = ObjectSchema.create({
   // single-org mode (renders "Invitation to null"), and the recipient email is
   // the more useful identifier in both modes anyway.
   titleFormat: 'Invitation for {email}',
-  compactLayout: ['email', 'organization_id', 'status'],
+  highlightFields: ['email', 'organization_id', 'status'],
 
   // Custom actions — generic CRUD is suppressed (better-auth-managed).
   // Mirror the `invite_user` toolbar action from sys_user here so admins
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-jwks.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-jwks.object.ts
index a67ab9e1e2..a2c94bcdf6 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-jwks.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-jwks.object.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export const SysJwks = ObjectSchema.create({
     docsUrl: 'https://docs.objectstack.ai/adr/0010-metadata-protection',
   },
   description: 'Asymmetric key pairs used to sign and verify issued JWTs',
-  compactLayout: ['id', 'created_at', 'expires_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['id', 'created_at', 'expires_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-member.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-member.object.ts
index a41be46d54..2bb17b2ee0 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-member.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-member.object.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export const SysMember = ObjectSchema.create({
   // '{user_id} in {organization_id}' format renders "… in null". User + role
   // identifies the membership in both single- and multi-org deployments.
   titleFormat: '{user_id} ({role})',
-  compactLayout: ['user_id', 'organization_id', 'role'],
+  highlightFields: ['user_id', 'organization_id', 'role'],
 
   // Row-level actions: better-auth `organization/update-member-role` and
   // `organization/remove-member`. Generic CRUD is suppressed on better-auth
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-access-token.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-access-token.object.ts
index a7a5c5ccca..1831fb3b69 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-access-token.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-access-token.object.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export const SysOauthAccessToken = ObjectSchema.create({
     docsUrl: 'https://docs.objectstack.ai/adr/0010-metadata-protection',
   },
   description: 'Opaque OAuth access tokens issued to client applications',
-  compactLayout: ['client_id', 'user_id', 'expires_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['client_id', 'user_id', 'expires_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-application.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-application.object.ts
index 906f105fea..8793e2d9d7 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-application.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-application.object.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export const SysOauthApplication = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'name',
   nameField: 'name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{name}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'client_id', 'type', 'disabled'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'client_id', 'type', 'disabled'],
 
   // Custom actions — all OAuth-application mutations are routed through
   // better-auth's `@better-auth/oauth-provider` endpoints (and a thin
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-consent.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-consent.object.ts
index 7d55474d20..58439a7f86 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-consent.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-consent.object.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export const SysOauthConsent = ObjectSchema.create({
     docsUrl: 'https://docs.objectstack.ai/adr/0010-metadata-protection',
   },
   description: 'User consent records for OAuth client applications',
-  compactLayout: ['client_id', 'user_id', 'scopes'],
+  highlightFields: ['client_id', 'user_id', 'scopes'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-refresh-token.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-refresh-token.object.ts
index 2782ef02fa..f7da8b1780 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-refresh-token.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-oauth-refresh-token.object.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export const SysOauthRefreshToken = ObjectSchema.create({
     docsUrl: 'https://docs.objectstack.ai/adr/0010-metadata-protection',
   },
   description: 'Opaque OAuth refresh tokens (linked to a session)',
-  compactLayout: ['client_id', 'user_id', 'expires_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['client_id', 'user_id', 'expires_at'],
 
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-organization.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-organization.object.ts
index 7f6946bad2..fcdf756767 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-organization.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-organization.object.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export const SysOrganization = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'name',
   nameField: 'name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{name}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'slug'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'slug'],
 
   // Custom actions — generic CRUD is suppressed (better-auth-managed),
   // but admins still need to create new orgs from the Setup app.
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-scim-provider.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-scim-provider.object.ts
index 312174dc38..cf5cff86c2 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-scim-provider.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-scim-provider.object.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ export const SysScimProvider = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'provider_id',
   nameField: 'provider_id', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{provider_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['provider_id', 'organization_id'],
+  highlightFields: ['provider_id', 'organization_id'],
 
   listViews: {
     all: {
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-session.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-session.object.ts
index 646af30308..f84ae7b08b 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-session.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-session.object.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export const SysSession = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'user_id',
   nameField: 'user_id', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: 'Session — {user_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['user_id', 'ip_address', 'expires_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['user_id', 'ip_address', 'expires_at'],
 
   // Custom actions — sessions are managed by better-auth (generic CRUD
   // suppressed). "Sign out other devices" is the high-value self-service
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-sso-provider.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-sso-provider.object.ts
index b6812b91d5..902590ea32 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-sso-provider.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-sso-provider.object.ts
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ export const SysSsoProvider = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'provider_id',
   nameField: 'provider_id', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{provider_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['provider_id', 'issuer', 'domain'],
+  highlightFields: ['provider_id', 'issuer', 'domain'],
 
   // All mutations go through @better-auth/sso's endpoints under
   // /api/v1/auth/sso/* (register / delete-provider) rather than the generic
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-team-member.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-team-member.object.ts
index 0e23d7d71b..174f6df910 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-team-member.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-team-member.object.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export const SysTeamMember = ObjectSchema.create({
   },
   description: 'Team membership records linking users to teams',
   titleFormat: '{user_id} in {team_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['user_id', 'team_id', 'created_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['user_id', 'team_id', 'created_at'],
 
   // Custom actions calling better-auth's team-member endpoints. Generic
   // CRUD is suppressed (managedBy: 'better-auth') so these are the
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-team.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-team.object.ts
index 1b572d1cd3..bc58983ba9 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-team.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-team.object.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export const SysTeam = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'name',
   nameField: 'name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{name}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'organization_id'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'organization_id'],
 
   // Custom actions calling better-auth's team endpoints. Generic CRUD is
   // suppressed (managedBy: 'better-auth'), so these are the canonical
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-two-factor.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-two-factor.object.ts
index 19788d08df..66aee6c192 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-two-factor.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-two-factor.object.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export const SysTwoFactor = ObjectSchema.create({
   },
   description: 'Two-factor authentication credentials',
   titleFormat: 'Two-factor for {user_id}',
-  compactLayout: ['user_id', 'created_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['user_id', 'created_at'],
 
   listViews: {
     mine: {
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-user-preference.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-user-preference.object.ts
index c57c98bae9..c1deb02f9d 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-user-preference.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-user-preference.object.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export const SysUserPreference = ObjectSchema.create({
   description: 'Per-user key-value preferences (theme, locale, etc.)',
   nameField: 'key', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (single-field titleFormat)
   titleFormat: '{key}',
-  compactLayout: ['user_id', 'key'],
+  highlightFields: ['user_id', 'key'],
 
   listViews: {
     mine: {
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-user.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-user.object.ts
index 22726b2f19..10307b6c35 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-user.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-user.object.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export const SysUser = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'name',
   nameField: 'name', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{name}',
-  compactLayout: ['name', 'email', 'email_verified'],
+  highlightFields: ['name', 'email', 'email_verified'],
 
   // Custom actions — generic CRUD is suppressed because user accounts are
   // managed by better-auth, but we still need first-class affordances for
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-verification.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-verification.object.ts
index 07b6fe851d..3d54808b18 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-verification.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/identity/sys-verification.object.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export const SysVerification = ObjectSchema.create({
   },
   description: 'Email and phone verification tokens',
   titleFormat: 'Verification for {identifier}',
-  compactLayout: ['identifier', 'expires_at', 'created_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['identifier', 'expires_at', 'created_at'],
   
   fields: {
     id: Field.text({
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-secret.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-secret.object.ts
index b588387536..aad9b06d53 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-secret.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-secret.object.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ export const SysSecret = ObjectSchema.create({
   isSystem: true,
   managedBy: 'system',
   description: 'Cipher store referenced by sys_setting handles. Never holds plaintext.',
-  compactLayout: ['namespace', 'key', 'kms_key_id', 'version', 'rotated_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['namespace', 'key', 'kms_key_id', 'version', 'rotated_at'],
   listViews: {
     all: {
       type: 'grid',
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-setting-audit.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-setting-audit.object.ts
index af05c79a4d..f403928b2c 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-setting-audit.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-setting-audit.object.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export const SysSettingAudit = ObjectSchema.create({
   isSystem: true,
   managedBy: 'system',
   description: 'Append-only audit trail for SettingsService mutations.',
-  compactLayout: ['namespace', 'key', 'scope', 'action', 'actor_id', 'created_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['namespace', 'key', 'scope', 'action', 'actor_id', 'created_at'],
   listViews: {
     recent: {
       type: 'grid',
diff --git a/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-setting.object.ts b/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-setting.object.ts
index 3e4a651864..902f27614c 100644
--- a/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-setting.object.ts
+++ b/packages/platform-objects/src/system/sys-setting.object.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ export const SysSetting = ObjectSchema.create({
   displayNameField: 'key',
   nameField: 'key', // [ADR-0079] canonical primary-title pointer (mirrors deprecated displayNameField)
   titleFormat: '{namespace}.{key}',
-  compactLayout: ['namespace', 'key', 'scope', 'updated_at'],
+  highlightFields: ['namespace', 'key', 'scope', 'updated_at'],
 
   listViews: {
     by_namespace: {
diff --git a/packages/spec/api-surface.json b/packages/spec/api-surface.json
index 25bf545034..3bb3f4019e 100644
--- a/packages/spec/api-surface.json
+++ b/packages/spec/api-surface.json
@@ -247,6 +247,7 @@
     "ExternalLookupSchema (const)",
     "ExternalTable (type)",
     "ExternalTableSchema (const)",
+    "FIELD_GROUP_SYSTEM_FIELDS (const)",
     "FILTER_OPERATORS (const)",
     "FeedActor (type)",
     "FeedActorSchema (const)",
@@ -258,6 +259,8 @@
     "Field (type)",
     "FieldChangeEntry (type)",
     "FieldChangeEntrySchema (const)",
+    "FieldGroupCollapse (type)",
+    "FieldGroupSection (interface)",
     "FieldInput (type)",
     "FieldMapping (type)",
     "FieldMappingSchema (const)",
@@ -450,6 +453,7 @@
     "defineMapping (function)",
     "defineObjectExtension (function)",
     "defineSeed (function)",
+    "deriveFieldGroupLayout (function)",
     "fieldForm (const)",
     "hasDynamicTokens (function)",
     "hookForm (const)",
diff --git a/packages/spec/liveness/object.json b/packages/spec/liveness/object.json
index 09c04f1345..a7172e160e 100644
--- a/packages/spec/liveness/object.json
+++ b/packages/spec/liveness/object.json
@@ -37,7 +37,15 @@
     },
     "compactLayout": {
       "status": "live",
-      "note": "objectui hover/cards/lookups."
+      "note": "[DEPRECATED → highlightFields, ADR-0085] parse-time alias copied onto highlightFields; preserved on output for back-compat."
+    },
+    "highlightFields": {
+      "status": "live",
+      "note": "ADR-0085 semantic role (renamed from compactLayout): objectui default list/grid columns (ObjectGrid/ObjectView/InterfaceListPage), child-record previews (first entry), record:details auto layout, detail highlight strip (first 4)."
+    },
+    "stageField": {
+      "status": "live",
+      "note": "ADR-0085 semantic role: objectui plugin-detail detectStatusField drives the record:path stepper; string names the lifecycle field, false suppresses heuristic stage detection."
     },
     "fieldGroups": {
       "status": "live",
@@ -47,10 +55,6 @@
       "status": "live",
       "note": "objectui segmented tabs."
     },
-    "detail": {
-      "status": "live",
-      "note": "objectui plugin-detail (detail.renderViaSchema)."
-    },
     "fields": {
       "status": "live",
       "evidence": "packages/objectql/src/engine.ts",
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/data/field-group-layout.test.ts b/packages/spec/src/data/field-group-layout.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..851ccabfbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/spec/src/data/field-group-layout.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 ObjectStack. Licensed under the Apache-2.0 license.
+
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { deriveFieldGroupLayout, FIELD_GROUP_SYSTEM_FIELDS } from './field-group-layout';
+
+describe('deriveFieldGroupLayout (ADR-0085 §5)', () => {
+  const groupedDef = {
+    name: 'account',
+    fieldGroups: [
+      { key: 'basic', label: '基本信息' },
+      { key: 'finance', label: '财务', collapse: 'collapsed' },
+      { key: 'unused', label: 'Empty group' },
+    ],
+    fields: {
+      name: { label: 'Name', type: 'text', group: 'basic' },
+      industry: { label: 'Industry', type: 'select', group: 'basic' },
+      revenue: { label: 'Revenue', type: 'currency', group: 'finance' },
+      website: { label: 'Website', type: 'url' },
+      secret: { label: 'Secret', type: 'text', group: 'basic', hidden: true },
+      created_at: { label: 'Created', type: 'datetime' },
+      organization_id: { label: 'Org', type: 'text' },
+    },
+  };
+
+  it('returns sections in declared order, drops empty declared groups', () => {
+    const sections = deriveFieldGroupLayout(groupedDef)!;
+    expect(sections.map((s) => s.key)).toEqual(['basic', 'finance', undefined]);
+    expect(sections[0].label).toBe('基本信息');
+    expect(sections[0].fields).toEqual(['name', 'industry']);
+    expect(sections.some((s) => s.key === 'unused')).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('passes collapse through and defaults it to none', () => {
+    const sections = deriveFieldGroupLayout(groupedDef)!;
+    expect(sections[0].collapse).toBe('none');
+    expect(sections[1].collapse).toBe('collapsed');
+  });
+
+  it('honours the deprecated collapse aliases on un-normalized metadata', () => {
+    const legacy = (extra: Record<string, unknown>) =>
+      deriveFieldGroupLayout({
+        fieldGroups: [{ key: 'g', label: 'G', ...extra }],
+        fields: { a: { group: 'g' } },
+      })![0].collapse;
+    expect(legacy({ collapsible: true, collapsed: true })).toBe('collapsed');
+    expect(legacy({ collapsible: true })).toBe('expanded');
+    expect(legacy({ collapsible: false })).toBe('none');
+    expect(legacy({ defaultExpanded: false })).toBe('collapsed');
+    expect(legacy({ defaultExpanded: true })).toBe('expanded');
+    // Canonical key wins over any alias.
+    expect(legacy({ collapse: 'none', collapsed: true })).toBe('none');
+  });
+
+  it('collects ungrouped fields into a trailing untitled bucket, skipping system fields', () => {
+    const sections = deriveFieldGroupLayout(groupedDef)!;
+    const trailing = sections[sections.length - 1];
+    expect(trailing.key).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(trailing.label).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(trailing.fields).toEqual(['website']);
+    expect(FIELD_GROUP_SYSTEM_FIELDS.has('created_at')).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps system fields an author EXPLICITLY grouped', () => {
+    const sections = deriveFieldGroupLayout({
+      fieldGroups: [{ key: 'meta', label: 'Meta' }],
+      fields: {
+        title: { type: 'text' },
+        created_at: { type: 'datetime', group: 'meta' },
+      },
+    })!;
+    expect(sections[0].fields).toEqual(['created_at']);
+  });
+
+  it('skips hidden fields even when grouped', () => {
+    const sections = deriveFieldGroupLayout(groupedDef)!;
+    expect(sections.find((s) => s.key === 'basic')!.fields).not.toContain('secret');
+  });
+
+  it('carries icon and description through', () => {
+    const sections = deriveFieldGroupLayout({
+      fieldGroups: [{ key: 'g', label: 'G', icon: 'credit-card', description: 'Money things' }],
+      fields: { a: { group: 'g' } },
+    })!;
+    expect(sections[0]).toMatchObject({ icon: 'credit-card', description: 'Money things' });
+  });
+
+  it('returns null when grouping does not apply', () => {
+    // No fieldGroups at all.
+    expect(deriveFieldGroupLayout({ fields: { a: {} } })).toBeNull();
+    // Declared groups but no field references one.
+    expect(
+      deriveFieldGroupLayout({ fieldGroups: [{ key: 'g1', label: 'G1' }], fields: { a: {}, b: {} } }),
+    ).toBeNull();
+    // Malformed input.
+    expect(deriveFieldGroupLayout(undefined)).toBeNull();
+    expect(deriveFieldGroupLayout(null)).toBeNull();
+    expect(deriveFieldGroupLayout('nope')).toBeNull();
+    expect(deriveFieldGroupLayout([])).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('ignores keyless / malformed group entries', () => {
+    expect(
+      deriveFieldGroupLayout({
+        fieldGroups: [{ label: 'No key' }, null, 'junk'],
+        fields: { a: { group: 'x' } },
+      }),
+    ).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('defaults label to the group key', () => {
+    const sections = deriveFieldGroupLayout({
+      fieldGroups: [{ key: 'billing' }],
+      fields: { amount: { group: 'billing' } },
+    })!;
+    expect(sections[0].label).toBe('billing');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/data/field-group-layout.ts b/packages/spec/src/data/field-group-layout.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f7d4317447
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/spec/src/data/field-group-layout.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 ObjectStack. Licensed under the Apache-2.0 license.
+
+/**
+ * Field-group layout derivation — the single source of the `fieldGroups`
+ * rendering semantics (ADR-0085 §5).
+ *
+ * An object's `fieldGroups` + each field's `Field.group` membership are a
+ * cross-surface semantic role: forms, detail pages, drawers and the designer
+ * all render the SAME grouping. The rules live here — a pure, dependency-free
+ * helper next to the schema that defines the keys (the ADR-0078 §2
+ * shared-predicate pattern) — so renderers consume one implementation instead
+ * of re-deriving it (two near-identical copies in `@object-ui` predate this
+ * module and are retired by it).
+ *
+ * Rules (per the ObjectFieldGroupSchema contract):
+ *   - sections come back in declared-group order;
+ *   - declared groups no visible field references are dropped;
+ *   - fields without a (declared) group collect into a trailing untitled
+ *     bucket, preserving field declaration order — EXCEPT audit/system
+ *     fields, which only surface when an author EXPLICITLY groups them
+ *     (explicit listing wins, same as authored page sections);
+ *   - hidden fields never surface;
+ *   - `collapse` passes through (deprecated `defaultExpanded` /
+ *     `collapsible`+`collapsed` aliases are honoured for pre-ADR-0085
+ *     metadata that reaches consumers un-normalized, e.g. bare DB rows).
+ *
+ * Returns `null` when grouping does not apply — no declared groups, or no
+ * visible field references one — so callers fall back to their existing
+ * flat/auto layout.
+ */
+
+/** Collapse behaviour of a derived section (mirrors ObjectFieldGroupSchema.collapse). */
+export type FieldGroupCollapse = 'none' | 'expanded' | 'collapsed';
+
+/** One derived section. `key` is absent on the trailing ungrouped bucket. */
+export interface FieldGroupSection {
+  /** Group machine key; i18n anchor (`…objects.{obj}._sections.{key}.label`). Absent = ungrouped bucket. */
+  key?: string;
+  /** Group display label (default text; i18n overrides at render time). */
+  label?: string;
+  /** Optional icon name declared on the group. */
+  icon?: string;
+  /** Optional description declared on the group. */
+  description?: string;
+  /** Collapse behaviour; 'none' when the group declared nothing. */
+  collapse: FieldGroupCollapse;
+  /** Member field NAMES in field-declaration order. Renderers resolve defs themselves. */
+  fields: string[];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Audit/system fields excluded from the derived UNGROUPED bucket (they carry
+ * no business meaning in a default layout). A field an author explicitly
+ * assigns to a group is kept. Exported so renderers filtering flat layouts
+ * agree with the derivation.
+ */
+export const FIELD_GROUP_SYSTEM_FIELDS: ReadonlySet<string> = new Set([
+  'created_at', 'created_by', 'updated_at', 'updated_by',
+  'organization_id', 'tenant_id', 'is_deleted', 'deleted_at',
+]);
+
+type AnyRec = Record<string, unknown>;
+
+/** Normalize one declared group entry; null for malformed/keyless entries. */
+function readGroup(g: unknown): { key: string; label?: string; icon?: string; description?: string; collapse: FieldGroupCollapse } | null {
+  if (!g || typeof g !== 'object' || Array.isArray(g)) return null;
+  const grp = g as AnyRec;
+  if (typeof grp.key !== 'string' || grp.key.length === 0) return null;
+  let collapse: FieldGroupCollapse = 'none';
+  if (grp.collapse === 'expanded' || grp.collapse === 'collapsed' || grp.collapse === 'none') {
+    collapse = grp.collapse;
+  } else if (typeof grp.collapsible === 'boolean' || typeof grp.collapsed === 'boolean') {
+    // Deprecated UI-dialect pair (pre-ADR-0085 designer metadata).
+    collapse = grp.collapsed === true ? 'collapsed' : grp.collapsible === true ? 'expanded' : 'none';
+  } else if (typeof grp.defaultExpanded === 'boolean') {
+    // Deprecated spec flag.
+    collapse = grp.defaultExpanded ? 'expanded' : 'collapsed';
+  }
+  return {
+    key: grp.key,
+    label: typeof grp.label === 'string' ? grp.label : undefined,
+    icon: typeof grp.icon === 'string' ? grp.icon : undefined,
+    description: typeof grp.description === 'string' ? grp.description : undefined,
+    collapse,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Derive the grouped layout for an object definition (or any bare metadata
+ * record shaped like one — the helper is deliberately tolerant of
+ * un-parsed/legacy input so every consumer can call it).
+ */
+export function deriveFieldGroupLayout(def: unknown): FieldGroupSection[] | null {
+  if (!def || typeof def !== 'object' || Array.isArray(def)) return null;
+  const obj = def as AnyRec;
+
+  const declared = (Array.isArray(obj.fieldGroups) ? obj.fieldGroups : [])
+    .map(readGroup)
+    .filter((g): g is NonNullable<ReturnType<typeof readGroup>> => g !== null);
+  if (declared.length === 0) return null;
+
+  const declaredKeys = new Set(declared.map((g) => g.key));
+  const fields = (obj.fields && typeof obj.fields === 'object' && !Array.isArray(obj.fields))
+    ? (obj.fields as Record<string, AnyRec | undefined>)
+    : {};
+
+  const buckets = new Map<string, string[]>();
+  for (const g of declared) buckets.set(g.key, []);
+  const ungrouped: string[] = [];
+  let anyGrouped = false;
+  for (const [name, f] of Object.entries(fields)) {
+    if (f?.hidden === true) continue;
+    const g = typeof f?.group === 'string' && declaredKeys.has(f.group) ? (f.group as string) : null;
+    if (g) {
+      buckets.get(g)!.push(name);
+      anyGrouped = true;
+    } else if (!FIELD_GROUP_SYSTEM_FIELDS.has(name)) {
+      ungrouped.push(name);
+    }
+  }
+  // No visible field references a declared group → grouping doesn't apply.
+  if (!anyGrouped) return null;
+
+  const sections: FieldGroupSection[] = [];
+  for (const g of declared) {
+    const names = buckets.get(g.key)!;
+    if (names.length === 0) continue; // declared-but-empty groups are dropped
+    sections.push({
+      key: g.key,
+      label: g.label ?? g.key,
+      ...(g.icon !== undefined ? { icon: g.icon } : {}),
+      ...(g.description !== undefined ? { description: g.description } : {}),
+      collapse: g.collapse,
+      fields: names,
+    });
+  }
+  // Trailing untitled bucket: ungrouped fields render flat (no key/label →
+  // renderers show no card chrome) after the declared groups.
+  if (ungrouped.length > 0) {
+    sections.push({ collapse: 'none', fields: ungrouped });
+  }
+  return sections.length > 0 ? sections : null;
+}
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/data/index.ts b/packages/spec/src/data/index.ts
index 7450ac7771..6ec2c6e1ad 100644
--- a/packages/spec/src/data/index.ts
+++ b/packages/spec/src/data/index.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ export * from './aggregation-policy';
 // enrichment, search field resolution, and lint.
 export * from './display-name';
 
+// fieldGroups layout derivation (ADR-0085 §5) — the single source of the
+// grouping semantics every renderer (form, detail, drawer, designer) applies.
+export * from './field-group-layout';
+
 // Feed & Activity Protocol
 export * from './feed.zod';
 
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/data/object.test.ts b/packages/spec/src/data/object.test.ts
index 9ab4e047bf..f7a9157053 100644
--- a/packages/spec/src/data/object.test.ts
+++ b/packages/spec/src/data/object.test.ts
@@ -848,11 +848,10 @@ describe('ObjectFieldGroupSchema', () => {
     const result = ObjectFieldGroupSchema.parse(group);
     expect(result.key).toBe('contact_info');
     expect(result.label).toBe('Contact Information');
-    // defaultExpanded defaults to true
-    expect(result.defaultExpanded).toBe(true);
+    // collapse defaults to 'none' (ADR-0085)
+    expect(result.collapse).toBe('none');
     expect(result.icon).toBeUndefined();
     expect(result.description).toBeUndefined();
-    expect(result.visibleOn).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
   it('should accept a fully-specified group', () => {
@@ -861,11 +860,16 @@ describe('ObjectFieldGroupSchema', () => {
       label: 'Billing',
       icon: 'credit-card',
       description: 'Billing and payment details',
-      defaultExpanded: false,
-      visibleOn: '$user.isAdmin',
+      collapse: 'collapsed' as const,
     };
     const result = ObjectFieldGroupSchema.parse(group);
-    expect(result).toEqual({ ...group, visibleOn: { dialect: 'cel', source: '$user.isAdmin' } });
+    expect(result).toEqual(group);
+  });
+
+  it('should reject an invalid collapse value', () => {
+    expect(() =>
+      ObjectFieldGroupSchema.parse({ key: 'billing', label: 'Billing', collapse: 'maybe' }),
+    ).toThrow();
   });
 
   it('should reject missing key or label', () => {
@@ -881,6 +885,63 @@ describe('ObjectFieldGroupSchema', () => {
   });
 });
 
+// =================================================================
+// Object-level semantic roles (ADR-0085)
+// =================================================================
+
+describe('ObjectSchema semantic roles (ADR-0085)', () => {
+  it('accepts stageField as a string or literal false, rejects other values', () => {
+    expect(ObjectSchema.parse({ name: 'lead', fields: {}, stageField: 'status' }).stageField).toBe('status');
+    expect(ObjectSchema.parse({ name: 'lead', fields: {}, stageField: false }).stageField).toBe(false);
+    expect(ObjectSchema.safeParse({ name: 'lead', fields: {}, stageField: true }).success).toBe(false);
+    expect(ObjectSchema.safeParse({ name: 'lead', fields: {}, stageField: 3 }).success).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('accepts highlightFields and aliases the deprecated compactLayout onto it', () => {
+    const direct = ObjectSchema.parse({
+      name: 'account', fields: {}, highlightFields: ['name', 'industry'],
+    });
+    expect(direct.highlightFields).toEqual(['name', 'industry']);
+    // Transition mirror: old-key readers (current objectui) still see
+    // compactLayout for metadata authored with the canonical name.
+    expect(direct.compactLayout).toEqual(['name', 'industry']);
+
+    const aliased = ObjectSchema.parse({
+      name: 'account', fields: {}, compactLayout: ['name', 'industry'],
+    });
+    expect(aliased.highlightFields).toEqual(['name', 'industry']);
+    // Deprecated key preserved on output (ADR-0079 alias pattern).
+    expect(aliased.compactLayout).toEqual(['name', 'industry']);
+
+    // Canonical key wins when both are present.
+    const both = ObjectSchema.parse({
+      name: 'account', fields: {}, highlightFields: ['a'], compactLayout: ['b'],
+    });
+    expect(both.highlightFields).toEqual(['a']);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects the removed detail UI-hints block at create()', () => {
+    expect(() =>
+      ObjectSchema.create({
+        name: 'product',
+        fields: {},
+        // @ts-expect-error — `detail` was removed by ADR-0085
+        detail: { hideReferenceRail: true },
+      }),
+    ).toThrow(/detail/);
+  });
+
+  it('strips the removed detail block on safeParse (no key on output)', () => {
+    const result = ObjectSchema.safeParse({
+      name: 'product', fields: {}, detail: { renderViaSchema: false },
+    });
+    expect(result.success).toBe(true);
+    if (result.success) {
+      expect((result.data as Record<string, unknown>).detail).toBeUndefined();
+    }
+  });
+});
+
 describe('ObjectSchema.fieldGroups', () => {
   it('should accept an object without fieldGroups (fully optional)', () => {
     const result = ObjectSchema.safeParse({
@@ -950,8 +1011,27 @@ describe('ObjectSchema.fieldGroups', () => {
       ],
     });
     expect(obj.fieldGroups).toEqual([
-      { key: 'workflow', label: 'Workflow', icon: 'workflow', defaultExpanded: true },
+      { key: 'workflow', label: 'Workflow', icon: 'workflow', collapse: 'none' },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  // ADR-0085: deprecated collapse aliases normalize onto the enum at parse.
+  it('maps deprecated defaultExpanded / collapsible+collapsed onto collapse', () => {
+    const parsed = ObjectSchema.parse({
+      name: 'account',
+      fields: { a: { type: 'text', group: 'g1' } },
+      fieldGroups: [
+        { key: 'g1', label: 'G1', defaultExpanded: false },
+        { key: 'g2', label: 'G2', collapsible: true, collapsed: true },
+        { key: 'g3', label: 'G3', collapsible: true },
+        { key: 'g4', label: 'G4', collapse: 'none', collapsed: true }, // canonical wins
+      ],
+    });
+    expect(parsed.fieldGroups?.map((g) => g.collapse)).toEqual([
+      'collapsed', 'collapsed', 'expanded', 'none',
     ]);
+    // Deprecated keys are preserved on output (cross-repo back-compat).
+    expect(parsed.fieldGroups?.[0].defaultExpanded).toBe(false);
   });
 
   describe('External Binding (ADR-0015)', () => {
diff --git a/packages/spec/src/data/object.zod.ts b/packages/spec/src/data/object.zod.ts
index 1cd3e7aab3..3918f0458f 100644
--- a/packages/spec/src/data/object.zod.ts
+++ b/packages/spec/src/data/object.zod.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import { ListViewSchema } from '../ui/view.zod';
 /**
  * API Operations Enum
  */
-import { ExpressionInputSchema , TemplateExpressionInputSchema } from '../shared/expression.zod';
+import { TemplateExpressionInputSchema } from '../shared/expression.zod';
 import { lazySchema } from '../shared/lazy-schema';
 import { MetadataProtectionFields } from '../kernel/metadata-protection.zod';
 import { ProtectionSchema } from '../shared/protection.zod';
@@ -224,14 +224,22 @@ export const VersioningConfigSchema = lazySchema(() => z.object({
  * Deferred (not part of MVP):
  *   - explicit per-field in-group ordering
  *   - nested groups / sub-groups
- *   - permission-scoped group visibility beyond `visibleOn`
- * 
+ *   - group-level visibility predicates (a `visibleOn` key existed here
+ *     briefly with no consumer anywhere; removed per ADR-0085 / ADR-0049
+ *     enforce-or-remove — re-add together with its enforcement when a
+ *     surface actually evaluates it)
+ *
+ * Derivation semantics (declared order, empty groups dropped, ungrouped
+ * trailing bucket, collapse passthrough) are single-sourced in
+ * `deriveFieldGroupLayout` (field-group-layout.ts, ADR-0085 §5) — UI
+ * renderers consume that helper instead of re-implementing the rules.
+ *
  * @example
  * ```ts
  * fieldGroups: [
  *   { key: 'contact_info', label: 'Contact Information', icon: 'user' },
- *   { key: 'billing',      label: 'Billing',             defaultExpanded: false },
- *   { key: 'system',       label: 'System',              visibleOn: '$user.isAdmin' },
+ *   { key: 'billing',      label: 'Billing',             collapse: 'collapsed' },
+ *   { key: 'system',       label: 'System' },
  * ]
  * ```
  */
@@ -250,11 +258,27 @@ export const ObjectFieldGroupSchema = lazySchema(() => z.object({
   /** Optional description / help text shown under the group header. */
   description: z.string().optional().describe('Optional description shown under the group header'),
 
-  /** Whether the group is expanded by default. Defaults to `true`. */
-  defaultExpanded: z.boolean().optional().default(true).describe('Whether the group is expanded by default'),
+  /**
+   * [ADR-0085] Collapse behaviour of the group's rendered section, on every
+   * surface (form, detail, drawer). One enum, three valid states — replaces
+   * the old `defaultExpanded` flag AND the UI-dialect `collapsible`/`collapsed`
+   * boolean pair, which could express contradictions and had drifted between
+   * spec and renderer (spec declared a key no renderer read; renderers read
+   * keys the spec rejected).
+   */
+  collapse: z.enum(['none', 'expanded', 'collapsed']).optional().default('none')
+    .describe("[ADR-0085] Section collapse behaviour: 'none' (always open, no toggle), 'expanded' (collapsible, starts open), 'collapsed' (collapsible, starts closed)."),
 
-  /** Optional visibility expression — when false, the entire group is hidden (e.g., "$user.isAdmin", "status == \'closed\'"). */
-  visibleOn: ExpressionInputSchema.optional().describe('Visibility predicate (CEL); group is hidden when FALSE.'),
+  /**
+   * @deprecated [ADR-0085 → `collapse`] Accepted as a parse-time alias:
+   * `defaultExpanded: false` maps to `collapse: 'collapsed'`, `true` to
+   * `'expanded'`, when `collapse` is absent. New metadata sets `collapse`.
+   */
+  defaultExpanded: z.boolean().optional().describe("[DEPRECATED → collapse] true → 'expanded', false → 'collapsed'."),
+  /** @deprecated [ADR-0085 → `collapse`] UI-dialect alias (pair with `collapsed`); mapped onto `collapse` at parse. */
+  collapsible: z.boolean().optional().describe("[DEPRECATED → collapse] Boolean pair with `collapsed`; use the `collapse` enum."),
+  /** @deprecated [ADR-0085 → `collapse`] UI-dialect alias (pair with `collapsible`); mapped onto `collapse` at parse. */
+  collapsed: z.boolean().optional().describe("[DEPRECATED → collapse] Boolean pair with `collapsible`; use the `collapse` enum."),
 }));
 
 export type ObjectFieldGroup = z.infer<typeof ObjectFieldGroupSchema>;
@@ -570,7 +594,33 @@ const ObjectSchemaBase = z.object({
     startNumber: z.number().int().min(0).optional().describe('Starting number for autonumber (default: 1)'),
   }).optional().describe('Record name generation configuration (Salesforce pattern)'),
   titleFormat: TemplateExpressionInputSchema.optional().describe('[DEPRECATED → nameField (ADR-0079)] Render-only title template; the server cannot return or query it, and an explicit nameField now takes precedence. Migrate a single-field title to nameField, a composite to a formula field designated as nameField.'),
-  compactLayout: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe('Primary fields for hover/cards/lookups'),
+  /**
+   * [ADR-0085] Semantic role: the object's most important fields, in priority
+   * order (the first entry wins wherever only one field fits, e.g. child-record
+   * previews). Cross-surface by definition — drives default list/grid columns,
+   * cards, hover/lookup previews, and the record-detail highlight strip (first
+   * 4). Renamed from `compactLayout` (the value is an ordered field list, not
+   * a layout); Salesforce compact-layout semantics.
+   */
+  highlightFields: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe('[ADR-0085] Ordered most-important fields; first entry wins where only one fits. Drives default columns, cards, previews, detail highlight strip. Renamed from compactLayout.'),
+  /**
+   * @deprecated [ADR-0085 → `highlightFields`] Accepted as a parse-time alias:
+   * copied onto `highlightFields` when that key is absent (both preserved on
+   * output for cross-repo back-compat, the ADR-0079 alias pattern). New
+   * metadata sets `highlightFields`.
+   */
+  compactLayout: z.array(z.string()).optional().describe('[DEPRECATED → highlightFields] Accepted as an alias for highlightFields.'),
+  /**
+   * [ADR-0085] Semantic role: the field that represents the record's LINEAR
+   * lifecycle (an ordered pipeline / stage progression). A string names the
+   * field; `false` declares the object's status-like field NON-linear (an
+   * unordered state set such as active/suspended/void) and suppresses every
+   * consumer's stage heuristics. Absent = consumers may heuristically detect
+   * a stage field (status/stage/state/phase). Consumed by the record-detail
+   * path/stepper today; kanban default grouping, list badges and report
+   * bucketing are natural future consumers.
+   */
+  stageField: z.union([z.string(), z.literal(false)]).optional().describe('[ADR-0085] Lifecycle stage field (linear/ordered), or false to declare the status field non-linear and suppress stage heuristics. Absent = heuristic detection allowed.'),
 
   /**
    * Built-in List Views
@@ -689,30 +739,13 @@ const ObjectSchemaBase = z.object({
   /** Key Prefix */
   keyPrefix: z.string().max(5).optional().describe('Short prefix for record IDs (e.g., "001" for Account)'),
 
-  /**
-   * Detail-page UI hints
-   *
-   * Per-object overrides for the synthesized record detail page (kind:'auto'
-   * / slotted defaults). Each flag is consumed by the UI runtime
-   * (`@object-ui/plugin-detail`'s `buildDefaultPageSchema`) when no explicit
-   * `Page` covers this object. Authored full Pages should set these regions
-   * directly instead.
-   *
-   * - `renderViaSchema=false` opts the object out of the schema-driven
-   *   rendering path entirely (legacy `RecordDetailView`).
-   * - `hideReferenceRail=true` suppresses the right-hand reference-rail
-   *   (related-list summary cards) so the form gets full width — useful for
-   *   catalog/atomic objects (Product, Task) where lateral relationships
-   *   aren't the user's main job.
-   * - `hideRelatedTab=true` suppresses the "Related" tab. By default the
-   *   synth removes the Related tab automatically when the rail is shown to
-   *   avoid duplication; set this flag to force hide/show regardless.
-   */
-  detail: z.object({
-    renderViaSchema: z.boolean().optional().describe('Opt this object out of the schema-driven detail renderer'),
-    hideReferenceRail: z.boolean().optional().describe('Suppress the right-hand reference-rail on the detail page'),
-    hideRelatedTab: z.boolean().optional().describe('Suppress the Related tab on the detail page'),
-  }).passthrough().optional().describe('Detail-page UI hints consumed by @object-ui/plugin-detail synth'),
+  // [ADR-0085] The former `detail: { … }.passthrough()` UI-hints block is
+  // REMOVED. Presentation intent lives in the cross-surface semantic roles
+  // above (nameField / highlightFields / stageField / fieldGroups); per-page
+  // control is an assigned Page. The passthrough block bred silently-inert
+  // keys (9 read by renderers vs 3 typed; the typed `hideReferenceRail` was
+  // itself a no-op for spec authors) — see the ADR for the full inventory.
+  // `renderViaSchema` retires together with the legacy monolith render path.
 
   /**
    * Object Actions
@@ -867,6 +900,58 @@ function normalizeNameFieldAlias(input: unknown): unknown {
   return input;
 }
 
+/**
+ * [ADR-0085] Parse-time alias normalization for the semantic-role renames
+ * (same pattern as `normalizeNameFieldAlias`; deprecated keys are PRESERVED
+ * on output for cross-repo back-compat):
+ *
+ * - `compactLayout` ⇄ `highlightFields`: whichever key is present is mirrored
+ *   onto the other (canonical wins when both exist). The BACK-fill
+ *   (highlightFields → compactLayout) is a transition mirror so renderers
+ *   that still read the old key (current objectui / vendored console) keep
+ *   their default columns for metadata authored with the new name; it is
+ *   removed together with the alias.
+ * - `fieldGroups[].collapse` derived from the deprecated flags when absent:
+ *   the UI-dialect `collapsible`/`collapsed` pair wins over the old
+ *   `defaultExpanded` (it is what designer-authored metadata actually
+ *   carries); mapping: collapsed:true → 'collapsed'; collapsible:true →
+ *   'expanded'; collapsible:false → 'none'; defaultExpanded:false →
+ *   'collapsed'; defaultExpanded:true → 'expanded'.
+ */
+function normalizeSemanticRoleAliases(input: unknown): unknown {
+  if (!input || typeof input !== 'object' || Array.isArray(input)) return input;
+  const obj = input as Record<string, unknown>;
+  let out = obj;
+
+  if (obj.highlightFields == null && Array.isArray(obj.compactLayout)) {
+    out = { ...out, highlightFields: obj.compactLayout };
+  } else if (obj.compactLayout == null && Array.isArray(obj.highlightFields)) {
+    // Transition mirror for old-key readers (see doc comment above).
+    out = { ...out, compactLayout: obj.highlightFields };
+  }
+
+  if (Array.isArray(obj.fieldGroups)) {
+    let changed = false;
+    const groups = (obj.fieldGroups as unknown[]).map((g) => {
+      if (!g || typeof g !== 'object' || Array.isArray(g)) return g;
+      const grp = g as Record<string, unknown>;
+      if (grp.collapse != null) return g;
+      let collapse: string | undefined;
+      if (typeof grp.collapsible === 'boolean' || typeof grp.collapsed === 'boolean') {
+        collapse = grp.collapsed === true ? 'collapsed' : grp.collapsible === true ? 'expanded' : 'none';
+      } else if (typeof grp.defaultExpanded === 'boolean') {
+        collapse = grp.defaultExpanded ? 'expanded' : 'collapsed';
+      }
+      if (collapse === undefined) return g;
+      changed = true;
+      return { ...grp, collapse };
+    });
+    if (changed) out = { ...out, fieldGroups: groups };
+  }
+
+  return out;
+}
+
 /**
  * Enhanced ObjectSchema with Factory
  */
@@ -883,10 +968,10 @@ export const ObjectSchema = lazySchema(() => {
    * so `.shape` / `.create()`'s internal `ObjectSchemaBase.parse` keep working.
    */
   parse(data: unknown, params?: Parameters<typeof ObjectSchemaBase.parse>[1]) {
-    return baseParse(normalizeNameFieldAlias(data), params);
+    return baseParse(normalizeSemanticRoleAliases(normalizeNameFieldAlias(data)), params);
   },
   safeParse(data: unknown, params?: Parameters<typeof ObjectSchemaBase.safeParse>[1]) {
-    return baseSafeParse(normalizeNameFieldAlias(data), params);
+    return baseSafeParse(normalizeSemanticRoleAliases(normalizeNameFieldAlias(data)), params);
   },
   /**
    * Type-safe factory for creating business object definitions.