gratification

American  

[grat-uh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌgræt ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the state of being gratified; great satisfaction.

   Synonyms:

   comfort, enjoyment, delight, relish, pleasure

2. something that gratifies; source of pleasure or satisfaction.

3. the act of gratifying. gratifying.

4. Archaic. a reward, recompense, or gratuity.

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Other Word Forms

• nongratification noun
• overgratification noun
• pregratification noun
• supergratification noun

Etymology

Origin of gratification

First recorded in 1590–1600, gratification is from the Latin word grātificātiōn- (stem of grātificātiō ). See gratify, -ation

Example Sentences

Humans do not have consistent preferences, especially when it comes to weighing current advantage against much greater gains from deferred gratification.

From The Wall Street Journal

She told the inquiry the men "prioritised personal gratification and their careers over the wellbeing of their families" and claimed "the deceit and collusion went high up the chain."

From BBC

He added that people tend to defer their gratification less when they are chronically unhappy, “so the decline in happiness might be playing a role in people spending rather than saving.”

From MarketWatch

“The hard work, the gratification of playing the game the right way. I love the game.”

From Los Angeles Times

College is full of delayed gratification: degrees and loans that might pay off in the future.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• enjoyment
• fulfillment
• joy
• luxury
• pleasure