compensate
verb
com·pen·sate
| \ ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt
, -ˌpen-\
, -ˌpen-\
compensated;
compensating
Definition of compensate
1
: to be equivalent to : counterbalance
Her virtues compensate her faults.
2
: to make an appropriate and usually counterbalancing payment to
compensate the victims for their loss
3a
: to provide with means of counteracting variation
compensate a magnetic needle
b
: to neutralize the effect of (variations)
1
: to supply an equivalent
—used with for … compensate for his feelings of loneliness by assertions of superiority.— W. H. Auden
2
: to offset an error, defect, or undesired effect
his enthusiasm compensates for his lack of skill
3
: to undergo or engage in psychological or physiological compensation
His aggression was an attempt to compensate for inherent passivity.
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Other Words from compensate
compensative
\ ˈkäm-pən-ˌsā-tiv
, -ˌpen- ; kəm-ˈpen(t)-sə-
\
adjective
, -ˌpen- ; kəm-ˈpen(t)-sə-
\
adjective
compensator
\ ˈkäm-pən-ˌsā-tər
, -ˌpen- \
noun
, -ˌpen- \
noun
compensatory
\ kəm-ˈpen(t)-sə-ˌtȯr-ē
\
adjective
\
adjective
Synonyms for compensate
Synonyms
indemnify, recompense, recoup, remunerate, requite, satisfy
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Examples of compensate in a Sentence
His enthusiasm compensates for his lack of skill.
The price of the item has been reduced to compensate for a defect.
compensate workers for their labor
She was not compensated for the damage done to her car.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Honest farmers who produced naturally rich milk were not compensated fairly. — Rick Barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Margarine smugglers, a deadly milk war and more flavor Wisconsin's dairy history," 28 Aug. 2019 We have been taught to be grateful instead of evaluating whether we are being compensated fairly. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Taking what she learned about self-advocacy and sharing it with others to close the gender pay gap," 24 Aug. 2019 The sports world needs to adopt and enforce human rights policies and practices for permanent changes to ensure that women can play sports, be fairly compensated, and experience sports as a safe space. — Minky Worden, Quartz, "Women soccer players’ biggest challenge is changing FIFA itself," 28 June 2019 This means, however, that we journalists are not being fairly compensated for our work and end up either cutting corners on security or avoiding the most chaotic places that are in most dire need of journalistic coverage and exposure. — Annika Hernroth-rothstein, National Review, "I Was Kidnapped in Venezuela," 7 June 2019 That cost falls on the conscripts, who aren’t compensated fairly for the risks and opportunity costs of serving in the military. — David R. Henderson, WSJ, "Chicago’s Lesser-Known Free Marketeer," 13 Jan. 2019 Comedy became widely appreciated and stand-up comedians saw their art being compensated handsomely. — Suraj Yengde, Quartz India, "In the politically impotent Indian comedy scene, Dalit humour is a class apart," 8 Aug. 2019 And while about 96% considered overall compensation important to their job satisfaction, around 51% disagreed that they were being fairly compensated for their duties and responsibilities. — Morgan Watkins, The Courier-Journal, "'This is not what you worked so hard for': Salary woes, no raises hurting morale at U of L," 19 June 2019 Colley, who worked in the plant for several years in the '80s, said she was compensated under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act following a bronchitis diagnosis. — Max Londberg, Cincinnati.com, "Health official: Planned study will review cancer rates near Portsmouth uranium plant," 5 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compensate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for compensate
compensate
verb
English Language Learners Definition of compensate
somewhat formal
: to provide something good as a balance against something bad or undesirable : to make up for some defect or weakness
: to give money or something else of value to (someone) in return for something (such as work) or as payment for something lost, damaged, etc.
See the full definition for compensate in the English Language Learners Dictionary
compensate
verb
com·pen·sate
| \ ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt
\
\
compensated;
compensating
Kids Definition of compensate
1
: to make up for
The Captain … compensating for the tremor in his hands, slowly lifted his own cup …— Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved
2