compensation

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

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

Definition of compensation

1 a : 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

2 a (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

—

compensational

play \ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl, -ˌpen-\ adjective

See compensation defined for English-language learners

See compensation defined for kids

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 of compensation from the Web

Indiana defines a pyramid promotional scheme as any process where a person gives more than $100 for the chance to receive compensation in return for persuading others to join the program.

— dwight adams, Indianapolis Star, "Parents beware: The book exchange where you send 1 to get 36 probably won’t work," 17 Apr. 2018
Mr Brewer and Mr Brooks each received $500,000 in compensation.

— The Economist, "A haunting chronicle of life after death row in Mississippi," 14 Apr. 2018
And as the economy grows over time — which has historically been the case in the United States — this dynamic should naturally lead to a steady increase in compensation for workers.

— suresh naidu, eric posner, Vox, "More and more companies have monopoly power over workers’ wages. That’s killing the economy.," 6 Apr. 2018
That’s what Democrats do—as Barack Obama did against Staples for executive compensation (2015), Anthem for raising insurance premiums (2010), and the Koch brothers for opposing renewable fuels (2015), among others.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "Trump Targets Amazon," 29 Mar. 2018
Another filing Monday also sought court approval for $117,847 in compensation for Edward Bowers and Middleswarth Bowers & Co. for accounting services.

— rick rothacker, charlotteobserver, "Rick Siskey's widow hasn't reached a settlement in Ponzi case. Now what? | Charlotte Observer," 26 Mar. 2018
Many others had, though there is nothing to suggest the streaming company received any compensation for showing tobacco use.

— travis m. andrews, miamiherald, "Streaming services such as Netflix have more sex, violence — and, it turns out, smoking | Miami Herald," 19 Mar. 2018
Neither Kutepova nor her mother, however, received compensation.

— marc bennetts, Newsweek, "Crackdown in Russia: Critics Accuse Nuclear Authorities of Soviet-Style Cover-Ups and Heavy-Handed Tactics," 21 Dec. 2017
That was what Intersport is going for — a weekend where basketball players were rewarded after four years without compensation.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "Bag Guys and dollar bills: College basketball's glorious 3X3U championship has it all," 1 Apr. 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.

Origin and Etymology of compensation

see compensate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

compensation Synonyms

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

COMPENSATION Defined for English Language Learners

compensation

noun

Definition of compensation for English Language Learners

: 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

COMPENSATION Defined for Kids

compensation

noun com·pen·sa·tion \ ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən \

Definition of compensation for Students

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.

Medical Dictionary

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

Law Dictionary

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