compensation

noun

com·pen·sa·tion | \ ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən,

-ˌpen-\

Definition of compensation

1a : the act of compensating : the state of being compensated

b : correction of an organic defect or loss by hypertrophy or by increased functioning of another organ or unimpaired parts of the same organ

c : a psychological mechanism by which feelings of inferiority, frustration, or failure in one field are counterbalanced by achievement in another

2a(1) : something that constitutes an equivalent or recompense Age has its compensations. Moving to the coast had some drawbacks, but there were also compensations.

(2) : payment to unemployed or injured workers or their dependents receiving compensation from his employer

b : payment, remuneration working without compensation

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Examples of compensation in a Sentence

The court awarded the victims millions of dollars in compensation. She offered to pay for lunch as compensation for keeping me waiting. Moving to the coast had some drawbacks, but there were also compensations.

Recent Examples on the Web

The new benefit represents another advance in Starbucks’ 30-year commitment to offering above-market compensation, said Ron Crawford, Starbucks vice president of benefits. — Benjamin Romano, The Seattle Times, "Starbucks adds subsidized backup child and senior care to U.S. benefits package," 9 Oct. 2018 But there's no word on if those who booked alternative flights, like Levi, will get any compensation. — Bridget Hallinan, Condé Nast Traveler, "Woman Arrives at Airport for Flight That 'Doesn't Exist'," 20 Sep. 2018 The state law stemmed from droit de suite, the French concept of offering artists compensation for future sales. — Amanda Svachula, New York Times, "California Tried to Give Artists a Cut. But the Judges Said No.," 11 July 2018 By giving a qualifying offer, a team is given the right of first refusal and gets draft-pick compensation if any of the players sign an offer sheet with another club. — Sam Carchidi, Philly.com, "Flyers make 7 qualifying offers but pass on goalie Petr Mrazek," 25 June 2018 The preacher, Fayhan al-Ghamdi, was initially sentenced to eight years in prison but then released in 2015, after paying compensation to the mother of his daughter, Lama. — Kareem Fahim, Washington Post, "Meet the Saudi women who advocated for the right to drive — and are paying dearly for it," 23 June 2018 The benefit of the Spotify investment presented SME with a unique opportunity to pay additional compensation to all of our eligible artists and participants. — Melinda Newman, Billboard, "Sony Music Entertainment to Start Paying Indie Artists & Labels Spotify Sale Proceeds as Early as August," 14 June 2018 The wage increases will help Costco keep to its strategy of offering employees total compensation that executive say leads the retail industry. — Benjamin Romano, Anchorage Daily News, "Costco to boost hourly wages for 130,000 U.S. employees," 1 June 2018 The wage increases will help Costco keep to its strategy of offering employees total compensation that executive say leads the retail industry. — The Seattle Times, OregonLive.com, "Costco boosts hourly wages for 130,000 employees," 1 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compensation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near compensation

compensation insurance

Statistics for compensation

Last Updated

11 Jan 2019

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Time Traveler for compensation

The first known use of compensation was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for compensation

compensation

noun

English Language Learners Definition of compensation

: something that is done or given to make up for damage, trouble, etc.

: something good that acts as a balance against something bad or undesirable

: payment given for doing a job

See the full definition for compensation in the English Language Learners Dictionary

compensation

noun

com·pen·sa·tion | \ ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən

Kids Definition of compensation

1 : something that makes up for or is given to make up for something else

2 : money paid regularly When the business was struggling, she worked without compensation.

compensation

noun

com·pen·sa·tion | \ ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən, -ˌpen-

Medical Definition of compensation

1 : correction of an organic defect by excessive development or by increased functioning of another organ or unimpaired parts of the same organ cardiac compensation — see decompensation

2 : a psychological mechanism by which feelings of inferiority, frustration, or failure in one field are counterbalanced by achievement in another

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compensation

noun

com·pen·sa·tion | \ ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən

Legal Definition of compensation

1 : the act of compensating

2 in the civil law of Louisiana : the ending of mutual obligations between two people for money or quantities of fungible things usually by operation of law but sometimes by an agreement

3 : something that makes up for a loss received compensation for the breach of contract specifically : payment to unemployed or injured workers or their dependents — see also unemployment compensation, workers' compensation

4 : payment for a thing of value tendered or a service rendered the Senators and Representatives shall receive compensation for their services — U.S. Constitution art. I