satisfaction
Americannoun
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an act of satisfying; fulfillment; gratification.
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the state of being satisfied; contentment.
- Antonyms:
- discontent, displeasure
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the cause or means of being satisfied.
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confident acceptance of something as satisfactory, dependable, true, etc.
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reparation or compensation, as for a wrong or injury.
- Synonyms:
- recompense, requital, indemnification, indemnity, atonement, expiation, amends
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the opportunity to redress or right a wrong, as by a duel.
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payment or discharge, as of a debt or obligation.
- Synonyms:
- remuneration, repayment
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Ecclesiastical.
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an act of doing penance or making reparation for venial sin.
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the penance or reparation made.
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noun
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the act of satisfying or state of being satisfied
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the fulfilment of a desire
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the pleasure obtained from such fulfilment
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a source of fulfilment
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reparation or compensation for a wrong done or received
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RC Church Church of England the performance by a repentant sinner of a penance
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Christianity the atonement for sin by the death of Christ
Other Word Forms
- nonsatisfaction noun
- presatisfaction noun
- satisfactional adjective
- satisfactionless adjective
- supersatisfaction noun
- undersatisfaction noun
Etymology
Origin of satisfaction
First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin satisfactiōn-, stem of satisfactiō “amends, excuse, penalty,” from satisfact(us) “compensated, sufficed” (past participle of satisfacere “to do enough, apologize, compensate,” from satis “enough” + facere “to do, make”) + -iō -ion; replacing Middle English satisfaccioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above; fact, satiate
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Learning curves disappear, and with them goes the satisfaction that comes from doing challenging things.
From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026
"It's basically about the satisfaction of starting with something untidy, learning the skills to bring order to the scene, then looking back at a job well done," he said.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
Browder takes some satisfaction at the long-in-coming trial.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
The actor expressed her satisfaction that the story of Sarah and Hagar is given a positive portrayal since that’s not always been the case.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026
That's me, he thought with satisfaction, and he fell asleep.
From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
