To save this word, you'll need to log in.
com·pen·sa·to·ry | \ kəm-ˈpen(t)-sə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- 
\
\Medical Definition of compensatory
: making up for a loss especially : serving as psychological or physiological compensation compensatory enlargement of the heart to overcome this feeling of inferiority by developing such compensatory mechanisms as intelligent aggression or shrewdness — Edward Sapir
Comments on compensatory
What made you want to look up compensatory? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Homophone Quiz
- In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a
______.
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share compensatory