satisfaction

noun

sat·​is·​fac·​tion ˌsa-təs-ˈfak-shən 

1

a

: the payment through penance of the temporal punishment incurred by a sin

b

: reparation for sin that meets the demands of divine justice

2

a

: fulfillment of a need or want

b

: the quality or state of being satisfied : contentment

c

: a source or means of enjoyment : gratification

3

a

: compensation for a loss or injury : atonement, restitution

b

: the discharge of a legal obligation or claim

c

: vindication

4

: convinced assurance or certainty

proved to the satisfaction of the court

Synonyms

• content
• contentedness
• contentment
• delectation
• delight
• enjoyment
• gladness
• gratification
• happiness
• pleasure
• relish

Examples of satisfaction in a Sentence

He gets great satisfaction from volunteering.

the satisfaction of a job well done

There is some satisfaction in knowing I was right.

She finds a certain satisfaction in helping others.

the satisfaction of his deep craving for love

I complained to the manager about the poor service but did not get any satisfaction.

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Recent Examples on the Web

There’s tremendous satisfaction in witnessing Kweli discover the world, and joy in being the one to shepherd these discoveries. —Anja Mutic, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2023

And there’s a satisfaction in playing with that imagery as a literary device. —Vulture, 20 Sep. 2023

All these years later, participants find an unlikely sort of satisfaction in the ritual. —Amelia Nierenberg, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023

In a report released last month which surveyed over 8,000 passengers, Which? revealed that Ryanair had the second-lowest customer score, a measure of overall satisfaction, of just 52%. —Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2023

Although most expressed relative satisfaction with their jobs, there were concerns. —Susan Glaser, cleveland, 15 Sep. 2023

The world is calling you to stretch your wings as the Moon flies into your 9th House of Expansion, highlighting all the satisfaction waiting for you out beyond the horizon. —Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2023

And Frontier’s satisfaction with how things are going suggests that the leverage, perhaps for the first time since the advent of cable TV, may indeed lie with the distributor. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2023

Los Angeles officials generally profess satisfaction with its work, which first drew notice in the 2021 removal of a large homeless encampment from Echo Park, when ambassadors worked alongside outreach workers from other agencies urging people to accept offers of shelter. —Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin satisfaction-, satisfactio, from Latin, reparation, amends, from satisfacere to satisfy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing satisfaction

• self-satisfaction
• to someone's satisfaction
• to the satisfaction of (someone)

• self-satisfaction
• to someone's satisfaction
• to the satisfaction of (someone)

Kids Definition

satisfaction

noun

sat·​is·​fac·​tion ˌsat-əs-ˈfak-shən 

1

a

: the quality or state of being satisfied

b

: a cause of satisfaction

2

: something that makes up for a loss or injury

3

: assurance sense 2

Legal Definition

satisfaction

noun

sat·​is·​fac·​tion

1

a

: the act or fact of satisfying

b

: execution of an accord by performance of the substituted obligation

—often used in the phrase accord and satisfaction compare accord sense 3, transaction sense 3

c

: a document indicating that an obligation has been satisfied

a satisfaction of mortgage

2

: the quality or state of being satisfied