It　is　crucial　to　clarify　the　effects　of　the　ceramic　phase,　the　metal　binder,　and　temperature　on　the　mechanical　properties　of　WC-Co　cermets,　as　a　typical　representative　of　cermet　materials,　due　to　highly　demanded　excellent　high-temperature　properties　under　harsh　service　conditions.　Based　on　uniaxial　compression　tests　and　detailed　microstructural　characterization,　this　study　quantified　the　deformation　characteristics　of　the　ceramic　phase　and　the　metal　binder　at　room　temperature　and　high　temperatures　applying　multiple　analysis　methods.　It　distinguished　different　contributions　of　the　ceramic　phase　and　metal　binder　to　the　plasticity　of　the　cermets　during　deformation,　and　proposed　the　mechanisms　for　the　plastic　deformation　of　cermets.　The　results　indicated　that　the　dislocation　plasticity　is　the　dominant　deformation　mechanism　of　the　cermets,　and　the　ceramic　matrix　is　mainly　responsible　for　the　fracture　strength　and　contributes　significantly　to　the　plasticity　of　the　cermets　both　at　room　temperature　and　high　temperatures.　At　high　temperatures,　grain　boundary　slip　and　phase　boundary　sliding　also　contribute　to　the　plastic　deformation　of　cermets.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.