compensate

[kom-puhn-seyt]

verb (used with object)

compensated, compensating 

1. to recompense for something.

   They gave him ten dollars to compensate him for his trouble.

   Synonyms: pay, reward, remunerate

2. to counterbalance; offset; be equivalent to.

   He compensated his homely appearance with great personal charm.

   Synonyms: countervail, counterpoise

3. Mechanics.,  to counterbalance (a force or the like); adjust or construct so as to offset or counterbalance variations or produce equilibrium.

4. to change the gold content of (a monetary unit) to counterbalance price fluctuations and thereby stabilize its purchasing power.

verb (used without object)

compensated, compensating 

1. to provide or be an equivalent; make up; make amends (usually followed byfor ).

   His occasional courtesies did not compensate for his general rudeness.

   Synonyms: atone

2. Psychology.,  to develop or employ mechanisms of compensation.

compensate

/ kəmˈpɛnsətərɪ, -trɪ, ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪt, ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪtɪv, kəmˈpɛnsə-, ˈkɒmpɛnˌseɪtərɪ /

verb

1. to make amends to (someone), esp for loss or injury

2. (tr) to serve as compensation or damages for (injury, loss, etc)

3. to offset or counterbalance the effects of (a force, weight, movement, etc) so as to nullify the effects of an undesirable influence and produce equilibrium

4. (intr) to attempt to conceal or offset one's shortcomings by the exaggerated exhibition of qualities regarded as desirable

Other Word Forms

• compensatory adjective
• compensator noun
• compensatingly adverb
• noncompensated adjective
• noncompensating adjective
• precompensate verb (used with object)
• recompensate verb (used with object)
• subcompensate verb (used with object)
• uncompensated adjective
• uncompensating adjective
• well-compensated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of compensate¹

First recorded in 1640–50, compensate is from the Latin word compēnsātus (past participle of compēnsāre to counterbalance, originally, to weigh together). See com-, pensive, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of compensate¹

C17: from Latin compēnsāre, from pensāre, from pendere to weigh

Example Sentences

"Since the ship's autopilot was engaged at the time, the autopilot compensated for this. No alarm notified the person on the command bridge about what had happened," the prosecution authority said.

Read more on Barron's

To compensate, he encourages in-person discussions; failing that, video beats text, even if video meetings are fatiguing and can blunt creativity.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, only about half of the pledged OPEC+ supply increase is expected to hit the market, as some members still have to compensate for past overproduction, while others face capacity constraints.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They are concerned that encouraging abstinence from particular foods could trigger binge eating and extreme dieting to compensate.

Read more on Salon

To help compensate for that, some employers are providing access to menopause specialists through virtual-care platforms such as Maven Clinic, Progyny and Carrot that focus on women’s health.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• atone 
• pay 
• recoup 
• refund 
• reimburse 
• repay 
• reward 
• satisfy 
• take care of