compensation

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

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

Not for nothing was Cohn paid some $70 million in compensation in 2007.

— william d. cohan, The Hive, "Gary Cohn, Trump Agoniste, Contemplates the End," 21 Aug. 2017
Some veteran agents have already worked hundreds of overtime hours with no compensation.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "The Trumps’ Travels Have Broken the Secret Service Budget," 21 Aug. 2017
Back in the spring, a French court ruled that Pitt and Jolie’s Chateau Miraval company owed Soudant 565,000 euros (about $663,000 at today's exchange rate), which included compensation for the harm done to Soudant’s standing in her industry.

— richard lawson, vanityfair.com, "Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Face a Dilemma Perfectly Suited to HGTV," 17 Aug. 2017
The city would match half of the employee’s contribution up to 1.5 percent of annual compensation.

— chris palmer, Philly.com, "City, police union agree to 3-year, $245 million contract," 15 Aug. 2017
Since the shooting, workers compensation paid Easton two-thirds of his salary, without taxes; the city of Aberdeen paid the rest of his salary up to 100 percent.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Aberdeen officer shot in the face in 2015 retiring," 11 Aug. 2017
Search the 2016 salaries and compensation data for more than 6,000 Milwaukee County employees.

— jsonline.com, "Milwaukee County employee pay 2016," 10 Aug. 2017
Federal workers, like most people who work for large employers, get a substantial portion of their insurance premium paid as part of their overall compensation — about 72 percent under Federal Employee Health Benefits Program.

— julie rovner, Kaiser Health News, "In Strong-Arm Tactic, Trump Puts Congressional Health Benefits Into Play," 1 Aug. 2017
Additionally, Bollier said somebody has to pay to care for the uninsured, and right now it’s hospitals that are forced by law to see people in their emergency rooms, often without compensation.

— andy marso, kansascity, "Republican rift over Medicaid, familiar to Kansans, now stymies Obamacare repeal," 21 July 2017

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

Synonyms

damages, indemnification, indemnity, quittance, recompense, recoupment, redress, remuneration, reparation, reprisal (s), requital, restitution, satisfaction

Antonyms

nonpayment

Related Words

punitive damage, solatium; amends, atonement, expiation; refund, reimbursement, repayment; adjustment, settlement; punishment, retaliation

Near Antonyms

underpayment

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