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compensation

noun
com·​pen·​sa·​tion | \ ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən How to pronounce compensation (audio) , -ˌpen-\

Definition of compensation

1a : the act of compensating : the state of being compensated
b : correction of an organic defect or loss by hypertrophy or by increased functioning of another organ or unimpaired parts of the same organ
c : a psychological mechanism by which feelings of inferiority, frustration, or failure in one field are counterbalanced by achievement in another
2a(1) : something that constitutes an equivalent or recompense Age has its compensations. Moving to the coast had some drawbacks, but there were also compensations.
(2) : payment to unemployed or injured workers or their dependents receiving compensation from his employer
b : payment, remuneration working without compensation
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Other Words from compensation

compensational \ ˌkäm-​pən-​ˈsā-​shnəl How to pronounce compensational (audio) , -​shə-​nᵊl , -​ˌpen-​ \ adjective

Examples of compensation in a Sentence

The court awarded the victims millions of dollars in compensation. She offered to pay for lunch as compensation for keeping me waiting. Moving to the coast had some drawbacks, but there were also compensations.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Standardized criteria can help ensure that, as much as possible, compensation fairly reflects performance. — Tom Cooney And Crystal Faulkner, Cincinnati.com, "BusinessWise: Understand best practices when considering pay raises in your business," 26 Aug. 2019 The award, known as intervenor compensation, will be paid by utility customers under a program that rewards interest groups that contribute to the commission’s decision-making. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "State utility regulators award $58,000 to group that opposed San Onofre settlement," 20 Aug. 2019 In 2016, two firms that contracted to run Rocky Flats agreed to a $375 million settlement to be paid to thousands of homeowners living east of the plant as compensation for a decline in home values as a result of living downwind of the plant. — John Aguilar, The Denver Post, "Plutonium in soil sample near Rocky Flats five times higher than cleanup standard," 20 Aug. 2019 Americans will now get compensation for losses tied to one of the biggest data security failures ever. — Nathan Bomey, USA TODAY, "Equifax to pay up to $700 million in FTC settlement over security breach," 22 July 2019 Macron’s damages scale — setting an upper and lower limit — doesn’t prevent workers fired unfairly from getting adequate compensation, the judges said. — BostonGlobe.com, "CVS begins human trials of home dialysis machine," 18 July 2019 Five years ago, college football players whose likenesses were featured in video games received checks as compensation. — Mike Finger, ExpressNews.com, "NCAA drops a fight it never should have started," 18 July 2019 Nearly three dozen House members have signed on to Lujan’s measure and his office is confident this could be the year that other downwinders are added to the list of those who can get compensation. — Washington Post, "Lawmaker: Expand compensation from nuclear weapons testing," 16 July 2019 The payments were registered as compensation for research, but Mr. Barak has refused to divulge any details about the research, saying that doing so could harm his future business. — Isabel Kershner, New York Times, "Epstein’s Ties to Former Israeli Leader Shake Up Election Campaign," 16 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compensation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of compensation

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

History and Etymology for compensation

see compensate

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More Definitions for compensation

compensation

noun
How to pronounce compensation (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of compensation

: something that is done or given to make up for damage, trouble, etc.
: something good that acts as a balance against something bad or undesirable
US : payment given for doing a job

See the full definition for compensation in the English Language Learners Dictionary

compensation

noun
com·​pen·​sa·​tion | \ ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən How to pronounce compensation (audio) \

Kids Definition of compensation

1 : something that makes up for or is given to make up for something else
2 : money paid regularly When the business was struggling, she worked without compensation.

compensation

noun
com·​pen·​sa·​tion | \ ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən, -ˌpen- How to pronounce compensation (audio) \

Medical Definition of compensation

1 : correction of an organic defect by excessive development or by increased functioning of another organ or unimpaired parts of the same organ cardiac compensation — see decompensation
2 : a psychological mechanism by which feelings of inferiority, frustration, or failure in one field are counterbalanced by achievement in another

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