compensation
noun
com·pen·sa·tion
ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən 
-ˌpen-
1
a
: the act of compensating : the state of being compensated
b
: correction of an organic defect or loss by hypertrophy or by increased functioning of another organ or unimpaired parts of the same organ
c
: a psychological mechanism by which feelings of inferiority, frustration, or failure in one field are counterbalanced by achievement in another
2
a(1)
: something that constitutes an equivalent or recompense
Age has its compensations.
Moving to the coast had some drawbacks, but there were also compensations.
(2)
: payment to unemployed or injured workers or their dependents
receiving compensation from his employer
b
: payment, remuneration
working without compensation
Examples of compensation in a Sentence
The court awarded the victims millions of dollars in compensation.
She offered to pay for lunch as compensation for keeping me waiting.
Moving to the coast had some drawbacks, but there were also compensations.
Recent Examples on the Web
Reporting thresholds for Form 1099-K (for payment card and third-party network transactions), Form 1099-MISC (for payments not covered by other 1099 forms), and Form 1099-NEC (for nonemployee compensation) have been changed.
—
Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
With great profits came job security, prestige and hefty compensation packages, driving glamorization of STEM fields to students and early-career professionals.
—Aman Kidwai, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Africa wants climate compensation, not loans The $1.3 trillion pledged by rich nations to the developing world to combat climate change should be in the form of compensation rather than loans, an African ministerial conference argued.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 18 July 2025
An influx of adult claims swamped the system after adverse reactions to flu shots became eligible for compensation in 2005 and serious shoulder problems were added to the injury table in 2017.
—Patricia Callahan, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for compensation
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
With great profits came job security, prestige and hefty compensation packages, driving glamorization of STEM fields to students and early-career professionals.
—Aman Kidwai, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Africa wants climate compensation, not loans The $1.3 trillion pledged by rich nations to the developing world to combat climate change should be in the form of compensation rather than loans, an African ministerial conference argued.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 18 July 2025
An influx of adult claims swamped the system after adverse reactions to flu shots became eligible for compensation in 2005 and serious shoulder problems were added to the injury table in 2017.
—Patricia Callahan, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for compensation
Cite this Entry
“Compensation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compensation. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compensation
noun
com·pen·sa·tion
ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən
1
: the act of compensating : the state of being compensated
2
a
: something that compensates
especially
: payment to an unemployed or injured worker
b
: payment in the form of salary or wages
Medical Definition
compensation
noun
com·pen·sa·tion
ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən, -ˌpen-
1
: correction of an organic defect by excessive development or by increased functioning of another organ or unimpaired parts of the same organ
cardiac compensation
see decompensation
2
: a psychological mechanism by which feelings of inferiority, frustration, or failure in one field are counterbalanced by achievement in another
Legal Definition
compensation
noun
com·pen·sa·tion
ˌkäm-pən-ˈsā-shən
1
: the act of compensating
2
in the civil law of Louisiana
: the ending of mutual obligations between two people for money or quantities of fungible things usually by operation of law but sometimes by an agreement
3
: something that makes up for a loss
received compensation for the breach of contract
specifically
: payment to unemployed or injured workers or their dependents see also unemployment compensation, workers' compensation
4
: payment for a thing of value tendered or a service rendered
the Senators and Representatives shall receive compensation for their services—U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. ILove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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