recompense

American  

[rek-uhm-pens] / ˈrɛk əmˌpɛns /

verb (used with object)

recompenses, present (3rd person singular) recompensed, past participle, past recompensing present participle

1. to repay; remunerate; reward, as for service, aid, etc.

   Synonyms:

   recoup, reimburse

2. to pay or give compensation for; make restitution or requital for (damage, injury, or the like).

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verb (used without object)

recompenses, present (3rd person singular) recompensed, past participle, past recompensing present participle

1. to make compensation for something; repay someone.

   no attempt to recompense for our trouble.

noun

1. compensation, as for an injury, wrong, etc..

   to make recompense for the loss one's carelessness has caused.

   Synonyms:

   satisfaction, indemnification, amends, payment

2. a repayment or requital, as for favors, gifts, etc.

3. a remuneration or reward, as for services, aid, or the like.

recompense British  

/ ˈrɛkəmˌpɛns /

verb

1. (tr) to pay or reward for service, work, etc

2. (tr) to compensate for loss, injury, etc

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noun

1. compensation for loss, injury, etc

   to make recompense

2. reward, remuneration, or repayment

Synonym Usage

See reward.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unrecompensable
  adjective
• recompensable
  adjective
• unrecompensed
  adjective
• underrecompense
  verb (used with object)
• recompenser
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has recompensed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have recompensed
  perfect
• have been recompensing
  perfect progressive
• am recompensing
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been recompensing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• is recompensing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• recompenses
  singular 3rd person
• are recompensing
  progressive
• recompensing
  participle

Past

• had recompensed
  perfect
• was recompensing
  progressive singular
• had been recompensing
  perfect progressive
• recompensed
  participle
• recompensed
  simple
• were recompensing
  progressive plural

Future

• will recompense
  simple
• will have recompensed
  perfect
• will have been recompensing
  perfect progressive
• will be recompensing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of recompense

1375–1425; (v.) late Middle English < Middle French recompenser < Late Latin recompēnsāre, equivalent to Latin re- re- + compēnsāre ( see compensate); (noun) late Middle English < Middle French, derivative of recompenser

Explanation

Say you loan a few bucks to a friend who is short on cash, and he wins the lottery. Presumably, he'll be able to recompense you, or pay you back what he owes. If you look closely at recompense, you'll see how similar it is to compensate, which means to make amends for something or to pay. Add the prefix re-, which suggests returning or repeating, and you get the meaning of recompense — paying back or reimbursing financially or otherwise. Recompense is most often used as a verb, but it works as a noun, too. In recompense for throwing peas and screaming, a mother might send a toddler to her room for a time-out.

Example Sentences

And without legal recompense, the only check to this power appears to be other armed men.

From Slate • Jan. 29, 2026

Here Mr. Stoppard managed to impart a few slivers of his deep knowledge of literary history while exploring the universal theme of a love that cannot find expression or recompense.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 30, 2025

"That settlement for Zach allowed him the opportunity to have some kind of recompense but more importantly, to be able to make some memories," said Anna-Louise.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2025

His children, Tala and Adnan El Sabbagh, “feel they were robbed of things they treasured and worked hard for with no apparent recompense in sight.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2025

Thou shalt serve humanity for the full span of thy days, and thy family shall have immunity as recompense for as long as you live.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman