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

If they ever got to a point where they just agreed we should compensate people, that would have to mean that someone up the chain was like, This was wrong.

From Slate • May 19, 2026

In December, Stormont ministers agreed to ring fence £119m to compensate police officers and civilian staff.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

This puts more agency into the hands of sellers, who have the choice to only compensate their own listing agent and not the buyer’s agent.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

After meeting Xi in April, Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov said Russia could "compensate" for China's energy shortages as the war hits global supplies.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

To compensate properly, always transpose by moving in the opposite direction from the change in the part names.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

Related Words

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