compensatory

American  

[kuhm-pen-suh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / kəmˈpɛn səˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

Also compensative

adjective

1. serving to compensate, as for loss, lack, or injury.

2. countercyclical.

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Other Word Forms

• noncompensative adjective
• noncompensatory adjective
• recompensatory adjective
• subcompensative adjective
• subcompensatory adjective
• uncompensative adjective
• uncompensatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of compensatory

First recorded in 1595–1605; compensate + -ory ¹

Example Sentences

He has demanded both compensatory damages to redress his own harms as well as punitive damages “to deter future unconstitutional conduct.”

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

It awarded $6 million in compensatory and punitive damages to a 20-year-old woman, known as K.G.M., who began using YouTube at age 6 and Instagram at 9.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Meta was quick to note that compensatory damages in the Los Angeles case totalled just $3 million, with a further $3 million in punitive damages awarded by the jury Wednesday.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Those plaintiffs were awarded $6 million in punitive damages along with $2.89 million in compensatory damages in a mass tort lawsuit that dates back to 2021.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2026

A makeweightflying to the void Supplemental asteroid Or compensatory spark Shoots across the neutral dark.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand