satisfaction

noun

sat·​is·​fac·​tion ˌsa-təs-ˈfak-shən How to pronounce satisfaction (audio)
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
4
: convinced assurance or certainty
proved to the satisfaction of the court

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The safety and satisfaction of our customers remain our utmost concern. News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 And both have high customer satisfaction ratings from the Better Business Bureau and review sites like TrustPilot. Brian Sloan, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025 In his new role, Caruso will oversee the studio sales and success team, focused on expanding the company’s list of top clients and working on customer satisfaction. Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025 And although studies of birth parents are few, a 2007 study found that some mothers who maintained contact with their child reported less grief and a higher level of satisfaction with the adoption process than those who had no contact. Nicole Chung, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for satisfaction

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of satisfaction was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Satisfaction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/satisfaction. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

satisfaction

noun
sat·​is·​fac·​tion ˌsat-əs-ˈfak-shən How to pronounce satisfaction (audio)
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

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

More from Merriam-Webster on satisfaction

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