compensate

American  

[kom-puhn-seyt] / ˈkɒm pənˌseɪt /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• compensatingly adverb
• compensator noun
• compensatory adjective
• 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

Etymology

Origin of compensate

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

Explanation

Compensate is about correcting for an imbalance. If you step in an unmarked pothole, the city may compensate you by paying your doctor bills treating a broken ankle. Compensate can also mean "to adjust for." So, if you did stumble into the pothole and injure your left leg, then you might compensate by leaning heavily on your right leg. Increasingly, compensate is used in place of pay. Day laborers are paid for their time, but executives are more likely to be compensated with a suite that includes salary and other benefits––what is commonly referred to as a compensation package.

Example Sentences

UBS views these as positive, “as regional players need to focus on tech partnerships to compensate against scale headwinds.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

It has suction systems to compensate for microgravity.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

The administrators have won a key non-wage concession: a recognition of a 40-hour work week, with flex time off to compensate for weeks of more than 40 hours.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

"This pattern suggests the brain may be reorganizing itself, essentially rejuvenating undamaged networks to compensate for lost function."

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

She said that if he lived another month, his body would probably compensate for it and he’d be okay.

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass

Related Words

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