satisfaction

American  

[sat-is-fak-shuhn] / ˌsæt ɪsˈfæk ʃən /

noun

1. an act of satisfying; fulfillment; gratification.

2. the state of being satisfied; contentment.

   Synonyms:

   enjoyment, comfort, pleasure

   Antonyms:

   discontent, displeasure

3. the cause or means of being satisfied.

4. confident acceptance of something as satisfactory, dependable, true, etc.

5. reparation or compensation, as for a wrong or injury.

   Synonyms:

   recompense, requital, indemnification, indemnity, atonement, expiation, amends

6. the opportunity to redress or right a wrong, as by a duel.

7. payment or discharge, as of a debt or obligation.

   Synonyms:

   remuneration, repayment

8. Ecclesiastical.

   1. an act of doing penance or making reparation for venial sin.

   2. the penance or reparation made.

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satisfaction British  

/ ˌsætɪsˈfækʃən /

noun

1. the act of satisfying or state of being satisfied

2. the fulfilment of a desire

3. the pleasure obtained from such fulfilment

4. a source of fulfilment

5. reparation or compensation for a wrong done or received

6. RC Church Church of England the performance by a repentant sinner of a penance

7. Christianity the atonement for sin by the death of Christ

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• presatisfaction
  noun
• undersatisfaction
  noun
• satisfactional
  adjective
• nonsatisfaction
  noun
• supersatisfaction
  noun
• satisfactionless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of satisfaction

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin satisfactiōn-, stem of satisfactiō “amends, excuse, penalty,” from satisfact(us) “compensated, sufficed” (past participle of satisfacere “to do enough, apologize, compensate,” from satis “enough” + facere “to do, make”) + -iō -ion; replacing Middle English satisfaccioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above; cf. fact, satiate

Explanation

Satisfaction is the act of fulfilling a need, desire, or appetite, or the feeling gained from such fulfillment. Satisfaction means you’ve had enough — in a good way. When a product says "Satisfaction guaranteed" it means you’ll like it or they'll give you your money back. A good meal provides satisfaction of your hunger. When you graduate from school or get a good job, you have a feeling of satisfaction. This term once meant an act of atonement assigned by a priest to make up for a sin. When something is explained well, it was explained to your satisfaction.

Example Sentences

The increase, in points, in overall airline satisfaction from 2025, according to the JD Power 2026 North America Airline Satisfaction Study out this week.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Satisfaction has risen for the first time since before the Covid pandemic, but experts say the improvements are "fragile" and there is still a lot more work to be done.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Power’s 2023 North American Airline Satisfaction Study found passenger dissatisfaction on the rise from the year before, though travelers in first and business class report better experiences.

From Salon • Nov. 12, 2023

Satisfaction, relief and just a real gentle pat on my back going, “OK, now we’ve got the next phase to work on, and I’m comfortable doing that.”

From New York Times • May 12, 2023

I wish with all my heart I had your Company there; we should then have the Satisfaction of seeing a great many fine Sights together.

From The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume I Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts. by P?llnitz, Karl Ludwig von

Related Words

• achievement
• amusement
• comfort
• contentment
• delight
• enjoyment
• fulfillment
• gratification
• happiness
• joy
• peace of mind
• pleasure
• pride
• relief
• vindication
• well-being