compensate

verb

com·​pen·​sate ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt 

-ˌpen-

compensated; compensating

transitive verb

1

: to be equivalent to : counterbalance

Her virtues compensate her faults.

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

compensate a magnetic needle

b

: to neutralize the effect of (variations)

intransitive verb

1

: to supply an equivalent

—used with for

… compensate for his feelings of loneliness by assertions of superiority.

—W. H. Auden

2

: to offset an error, defect, or undesired effect

I hope my enthusiasm compensates for my lack of skill.

3

: to undergo or engage in psychological or physiological compensation

Their aggression was an attempt to compensate for inherent passivity.

compensative

ˈkäm-pən-ˌsā-tiv 

-ˌpen-;

  kəm-ˈpen(t)-sə- 

adjective

compensator

ˈkäm-pən-ˌsā-tər 

-ˌpen-

noun

compensatory

kəm-ˈpen(t)-sə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Synonyms of compensate

• reimburse
• satisfy
• pay

Choose the Right Synonym for 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, 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

Examples of compensate in a Sentence

His enthusiasm compensates for his lack of skill.

The price of the item has been reduced to compensate for a defect.

compensate workers for their labor

She was not compensated for the damage done to her car.

Recent Examples on the Web

Many have moved out, while some residents have complained that they haven't been compensated for hotel stays. —Michele Gile, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025

California’s utility regulator on Thursday voted to approve the portion of revenue that Pacific Gas and Electric can use to compensate investors, a figure that was lower than what the company originally requested but higher than the amount advocacy groups had called for. —Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 19 Dec. 2025

Creators are vetted, regulated, and compensated through royalties when others follow their portfolios—aligning incentives toward consistent performance rather than one-off meme stocks. —Nino Paoli, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025

Afterward, they were instructed to tell the next participant that the tasks were enjoyable, and in return they were compensated either a dollar or twenty dollars. —Shayla Love, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin compensātus, past participle of compensāre "to balance, make good, counterbalance, make up for," from com- com- + pensāre "to weigh, weigh out, treat as a setoff (against a debt), exchange, counterbalance," iterative of pendere "to weigh, have a weight of, pay (out), estimate, consider" — more at pendent

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for compensate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

compensate

verb

com·​pen·​sate ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt 

compensated; compensating

1

: to be equal to in value or effect : counterbalance

2

: to make up for

effort that compensates for lack of skill

3

: to make equal return to : pay

compensate workers for their labor

compensatory

kəm-ˈpen(t)-sə-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

adjective

Medical Definition

compensate

verb

com·​pen·​sate ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt, -ˌpen- 

compensated; compensating

transitive verb

: to subject to or remedy by physiological compensation

compensated hypertensive patients

intransitive verb

: to undergo, experience, or engage in psychological or physiological compensation

his aggression was an attempt to compensate for inherent passivity

Legal Definition

compensate

transitive verb

com·​pen·​sate ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt, -ˌpen- 

compensated; compensating

: to make an appropriate and usually counterbalancing payment to

compensate the victims for their injuries

adequately compensated for her work

compensatory

kəm-ˈpen-sə-ˌtōr-ē 

adjective