recompense

1 of 2

verb

rec·​om·​pense ˈre-kəm-ˌpen(t)s How to pronounce recompense (audio)
recompensed; recompensing

transitive verb

1
a
: to give something to by way of compensation (as for a service rendered or damage incurred)
b
: to pay for
2
: to return in kind : requite

recompense

2 of 2

noun

: an equivalent or a return for something done, suffered, or given : compensation
offered in recompense for injuries
Choose the Right Synonym for recompense

pay, compensate, remunerate, satisfy, reimburse, indemnify, repay, recompense mean to give money or its equivalent in return for something.

pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

Examples of recompense in a Sentence

Verb the cash-strapped museum can recompense lecturers with only token honorariums that company still needs to recompense the work that the contractor finished last month Noun He is asking for a just recompense for the work he's done. He received $10,000 in recompense for his injuries.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Businesses fail if proceeds do not recompense all expenses used in producing and delivering their products. Phillip Molnar, The Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2024 The farmers argue that they should be recompensed by Texas under the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Jan. 2024
Noun
While the tape became an era-defining moment in celebrity culture, neither Anderson nor Lee reportedly received any financial recompense. Emily Maddick, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2024 Under their terms, generally, captains were elected, the injured received recompense, and pay came in shares rather than in wages, with captains rarely getting more than twice what ordinary seamen did. Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for recompense 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recompense.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French recompenser, from Late Latin recompensare, from Latin re- + compensare to compensate

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recompense was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near recompense

Cite this Entry

“Recompense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recompense. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

recompense

verb
rec·​om·​pense
ˈrek-əm-ˌpen(t)s
recompensed; recompensing
: to pay for or pay back
recompense noun

More from Merriam-Webster on recompense

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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