satisfaction
Americannoun
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an act of satisfying; fulfillment; gratification.
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the state of being satisfied; contentment.
- Antonyms:
- discontent, displeasure
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the cause or means of being satisfied.
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confident acceptance of something as satisfactory, dependable, true, etc.
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reparation or compensation, as for a wrong or injury.
- Synonyms:
- recompense, requital, indemnification, indemnity, atonement, expiation, amends
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the opportunity to redress or right a wrong, as by a duel.
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payment or discharge, as of a debt or obligation.
- Synonyms:
- remuneration, repayment
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Ecclesiastical.
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an act of doing penance or making reparation for venial sin.
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the penance or reparation made.
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noun
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the act of satisfying or state of being satisfied
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the fulfilment of a desire
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the pleasure obtained from such fulfilment
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a source of fulfilment
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reparation or compensation for a wrong done or received
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RC Church Church of England the performance by a repentant sinner of a penance
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Christianity the atonement for sin by the death of Christ
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing satisfaction
Enjoy! Synonyms for "Pleasure"
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Little Richard (1932–2020): Tribute List
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James Monroe's First Inaugural Address (1817)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While Europe may derive some satisfaction from moderate growth of 3%, alarm bells will be ringing at who is benefiting.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026
Even in its crispy-fried satisfaction, this San Ginés alley has always been a thinker’s refuge.
From Salon • Jun. 23, 2026
“I’ll tell you the patient satisfaction rate is extremely high and patients are very, very happy on these meds,” Siavoshi says.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026
If we choose to collapse into a monolithic, uncritical chorus whenever a wronged woman writes a memoir, we are trading our real potency for the cheap satisfaction of rah-rah-go-us groupthink.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026
After Frankie had fixed the tea to my satisfaction, he passed it over.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
