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

That move is expected to trigger many thousands of lawsuits, demanding billions of dollars in compensation from Cuba for properties expropriated after the 1959 revolution, and also to dampen the appetites of foreign investors interested in Cuba. — Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, "Mexico, Cuba, and Trump’s Increasing Preference for Punishment Over Diplomacy," 11 June 2019 Director Bart Skelton, a writer in New Mexico, received at least $28,750 over three years to produce articles for NRA publications and $6,550 in compensation in 2017. — Anchorage Daily News, "NRA money flowed to board members amid allegedly lavish spending by officials, vendors," 10 June 2019 According to the outlet, Ruszczyk Damond’s family were offered $20 million in compensation by the city of Minneapolis last month. — PEOPLE.com, "Minneapolis Police Officer Sentenced to 12 Years After Shooting Unarmed Australian Yoga Teacher," 7 June 2019 Goodarzi, who started as CEO in January, received $12.6 million in compensation last year as the head of the division that includes QuickBooks. — Justin Elliott, ProPublica, "Intuit CEO in Internal Video: Hiding Free TurboTax Was In “Best Interest of Taxpayers”," 15 May 2019 But Harris is calling for the federal government to immediately invest a base level of funding into each state with the goal of closing the teacher pay gap — the difference in compensation for teachers and similar professionals with college degrees. — Juana Summers, The Seattle Times, "Kamala Harris promises teachers a raise if elected president," 26 Mar. 2019 But media reports and Securities and Exchange Commission filings show that Shalala earned around $680,000 in compensation as a UnitedHealth board member before leaving in 2007, and in 2005 sold 61,000 shares of stock worth more than $5.4 million. — David Smiley And Alex Daugherty, miamiherald, "A Miami Democrat bets on attacking a party matriarch in 'the year of the woman'," 6 June 2018 As with similar compensation funds in other dioceses, including New York, victims will have a window of time to submit claims. — Ian Lovett, WSJ, "California Catholic Dioceses Launch Victim Compensation Funds," 14 May 2019 About 38,500 people have applied to a compensation fund, and over $3.9 billion in claims have been approved. — Jennifer Peltz And Karen Matthews, Fox News, "US marks 9/11 with somber tributes; Trump speaks at PA site," 12 Sep. 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

14 Jun 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

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