compensate

[ kom-puhn-seyt ]

verb (used with object)

, com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.

1. to recompense for something:

   They gave him ten dollars to compensate him for his trouble.

   Synonyms: pay, reward, remunerate

2. to counterbalance; offset; be equivalent to:

   He compensated his homely appearance with great personal charm.

   Synonyms: countervail, counterpoise

3. Mechanics. to counterbalance (a force or the like); adjust or construct so as to offset or counterbalance variations or produce equilibrium.
4. to change the gold content of (a monetary unit) to counterbalance price fluctuations and thereby stabilize its purchasing power.

verb (used without object)

, com·pen·sat·ed, com·pen·sat·ing.

1. to provide or be an equivalent; make up; make amends (usually followed by for ):

   His occasional courtesies did not compensate for his general rudeness.

   Synonyms: atone

2. Psychology. to develop or employ mechanisms of compensation.

compensate

/ kəmˈpɛnsətərɪ; -trɪ; ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪt; ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪtɪv; kəmˈpɛnsə-; ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪtərɪ /

verb

1. to make amends to (someone), esp for loss or injury
2. tr to serve as compensation or damages for (injury, loss, etc)
3. to offset or counterbalance the effects of (a force, weight, movement, etc) so as to nullify the effects of an undesirable influence and produce equilibrium
4. intr to attempt to conceal or offset one's shortcomings by the exaggerated exhibition of qualities regarded as desirable

Derived Forms

• compensatory, adjective
• ˈcompenˌsator, noun

Other Words From

• compen·sating·ly adverb
• compen·sator noun
• non·compen·sated adjective
• non·compen·sating adjective
• pre·compen·sate verb (used with object) precompensated precompensating
• re·compen·sate verb (used with object) recompensated recompensating
• sub·compen·sate verb (used with object) subcompensated subcompensating
• un·compen·sated adjective
• un·compen·sating adjective
• well-compen·sated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of compensate¹

First recorded in 1640–50, compensate is from the Latin word compēnsātus (past participle of compēnsāre to counterbalance, originally, to weigh together). See com-, pensive, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of compensate¹

C17: from Latin compēnsāre, from pensāre, from pendere to weigh

Example Sentences

Democrats may instead be looking for someone who simply has the Sauce—a sort of inverse Trump who can win and hold voters’ attention in a Fragmented Media Landscape™️, whose perceived authenticity and realness will more than compensate for a “polarizing” personality and past or present espousal of positions that don’t necessarily match up with those of the median voter.

From Slate

And, he suggested, a pardon would not be enough to compensate him and others for the time they spent behind bars.

From BBC

The post-pandemic increase in wages in no way can compensate for the last opportunity cost of a generation of flat or real wage loss that was replaced by predatory consumer credit and student loans.

From Salon

“So doing the second series will help compensate me for the success of the first one too.”

From BBC

The government has confirmed it has set aside £11.8bn to compensate victims of the infected blood scandal.

From BBC

Related Words

• atone
• pay
• recoup
• refund
• reimburse
• repay
• reward
• satisfy
• take care of