First Known Use: 1646
Dictionary
compensate
verb com·pen·sate \ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt, -ˌpen-\
: to provide something good as a balance against something bad or undesirable : to make up for some defect or weakness
: to give money or something else of value to (someone) in return for something (such as work) or as payment for something lost, damaged, etc.
com·pen·sat·edcom·pen·sat·ing
Full Definition of COMPENSATE
transitive verb
1
: to be equivalent to : counterbalance
2
: to make an appropriate and usually counterbalancing payment to <compensate the victims for their loss>
3
a : to provide with means of counteracting variation b : to neutralize the effect of (variations)
intransitive verb
1
: to supply an equivalent —used with for
2
: to offset an error, defect, or undesired effect <his enthusiasm compensates for his lack of skill>
3
: to undergo or engage in psychological or physiological compensation
— com·pen·sa·tive \ˈkäm-pən-ˌsā-tiv, -ˌpen-; kəm-ˈpen(t)-sə-\ adjective
— com·pen·sa·tor \ˈkäm-pən-ˌsā-tər, -ˌpen-\ noun
— com·pen·sa·to·ry \kəm-ˈpen(t)-sə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective
See compensate defined for English-language learners
See compensate defined for kids
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Origin of COMPENSATE
Latin compensatus, past participle of compensare, frequentative of compendere
Related to COMPENSATE
- Synonyms
- indemnify, recompense, recoup, remunerate, requite, satisfy
Synonym Discussion of COMPENSATE
pay, compensate, remunerate, satisfy, reimburse, indemnify, repay, recompense mean to give money or its equivalent in return for something. pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred <paid their bills>. compensate implies a making up for services rendered <an attorney well compensated for her services>. remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for <promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely>. satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law <all creditors will be satisfied in full>. reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit <reimbursed employees for expenses>. indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, or warfare <indemnified the families of the dead miners>. repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount <repay a favor with a favor>. recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward <passengers were recompensed for the delay>.
Rhymes with COMPENSATE
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COMPENSATED Defined for Kids
compensate
verb com·pen·sate \ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt\
com·pen·sat·edcom·pen·sat·ing
Definition of COMPENSATE for Kids
1
: to make up for <The Captain … compensating for the tremor in his hands, slowly lifted his own cup … — Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved>
2
: to give money to make up for something <The factory will compensate an injured worker.>
Medical Dictionary
compensate
verb com·pen·sate \ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt, -ˌpen-\
com·pen·sat·edcom·pen·sat·ing
Medical Definition of COMPENSATE
transitive verb
: to subject to or remedy by physiological compensation <compensated hypertensive patients>
intransitive verb
: to undergo or engage in psychic or physiological compensation <his aggression was an attempt to compensate for inherent passivity>
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