compensatory

American  

[kuhm-pen-suh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / kəmˈpɛn səˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

Also compensative

adjective

1. serving to compensate, as for loss, lack, or injury.

2. countercyclical.

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Other Word Forms

• noncompensative adjective
• noncompensatory adjective
• recompensatory adjective
• subcompensative adjective
• subcompensatory adjective
• uncompensative adjective
• uncompensatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of compensatory

First recorded in 1595–1605; compensate + -ory ¹

Example Sentences

Meta was quick to note that compensatory damages in the Los Angeles case totalled just $3 million, with a further $3 million in punitive damages awarded by the jury Wednesday.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

“Obesity is a chronic, relapsing, biologically defended disease. The body defends its highest sustained weight. So when weight decreases, compensatory mechanisms intensify. GLP‑1s blunt these signals, but they do not eliminate them entirely.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

The plaintiff in the second suit is seeking compensatory, treble and restitution damages for herself and other Costco customers.

From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026

The compensatory damages for medical claims ranged between $40,000 and $240,000 per client.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2026

I do this sometimes as a compensatory tactic.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides