compensation

noun

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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 More will be compelled by market forces to raise compensation... — James Freeman, WSJ, "Worst Worker Shortage Ever," 6 May 2021 And the company paid Ballard Partners at least $80,000 over the next year, according to lobbying compensation records. — Jason Garcia, orlandosentinel.com, "Matt Gaetz helped set off Florida’s marijuana ‘green rush.’ Some of his friends, allies scored big," 6 May 2021 Details regarding some of the more thorny issues, including whether to end board compensation and payments to members for serving on those committees, have yet to be determined. — Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, "HFPA members vote in favor of proposed reforms. Will it be enough to save the Golden Globes?," 6 May 2021 Carbon offsetting really covers two things: carbon compensation (avoidances where your credits help someone else avoid emitting additional emissions but that doesn’t help the emissions associated with your travels) and carbon removal. — Christopher Marquis, Forbes, "Goodwings Turns Travel Net Zero," 6 May 2021 Possible forms of restitution—beyond securing parole and making travel arrangements—include access to medical and mental-health services and possible financial compensation. — Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, "A Mother, Separated from Her Children at the Border, Comes Home," 5 May 2021 There is also money to upgrade and install GPS on all school buses and to pay for administrator development programs and a compensation study, documents said. — Rafael Guerrero, chicagotribune.com, "Naperville D203′s proposed $306 million budget includes federal funding for learning specialists, social workers and tutors," 5 May 2021 Lamont also proposed using the latest tranche of federal aid to bolster compensation further, though not at the level sought by the unions. — Keith M. Phaneuf, courant.com, "Top lawmakers say Connecticut can afford nursing home pay hikes to avert planned strike; workers currently earn $12 to $15 per hour," 5 May 2021 White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday wouldn't say if the US would commit to calling on China to pay compensation in the event of damage caused by the rocket. — Paul Leblanc, CNN, "Chinese rocket debris is expected to crash into Earth soon. It's not the first time.," 5 May 2021

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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Last Updated

9 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Compensation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compensation. Accessed 16 May. 2021.

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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

US : 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