compensate
verb
com·pen·sate
ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt 
-ˌpen-
compensated; compensating
1
: to be equivalent to : counterbalance
Her virtues compensate her faults.
2
: to make an appropriate and usually counterbalancing payment to
compensate the victims for their loss
3
a
: to provide with means of counteracting variation
compensate a magnetic needle
b
: to neutralize the effect of (variations)
1
: to supply an equivalent
—used with for
… compensate for his feelings of loneliness by assertions of superiority.—
W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden2
: to offset an error, defect, or undesired effect
his enthusiasm compensates for his lack of skill
3
: to undergo or engage in psychological or physiological compensation
His aggression was an attempt to compensate for inherent passivity.
Examples of compensate in a Sentence
His enthusiasm compensates for his lack of skill.
The price of the item has been reduced to compensate for a defect.
compensate workers for their labor
She was not compensated for the damage done to her car.
Recent Examples on the Web
We don’t get compensated until something goes into production.
—Lauren Coates, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
Both Labor and the coalition pledged to directly intervene, if necessary, by exercising the power to acquire the lease and compensating Landbridge Group.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Creators who are participating in a pilot with Google are being directly compensated, but not nearly enough to offset declines in their advertising revenue, according to Marc McCollum, Raptive’s chief innovation officer.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025
Georgia is one of 12 states without a law compensating people wrongfully convicted of crimes, according to an analysis by the Georgia Innocence Project.
—Charlotte Kramon, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compensate
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Lauren Coates, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
Both Labor and the coalition pledged to directly intervene, if necessary, by exercising the power to acquire the lease and compensating Landbridge Group.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Creators who are participating in a pilot with Google are being directly compensated, but not nearly enough to offset declines in their advertising revenue, according to Marc McCollum, Raptive’s chief innovation officer.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025
Georgia is one of 12 states without a law compensating people wrongfully convicted of crimes, according to an analysis by the Georgia Innocence Project.
—Charlotte Kramon, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compensate
Cite this Entry
“Compensate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compensate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
compensate
verb
com·pen·sate
ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt
compensated; compensating
1
: to be equal to in value or effect : counterbalance
2
: to make up for
effort that compensates for lack of skill
3
: to make equal return to : pay
compensate workers for their labor
Medical Definition
compensate
verb
com·pen·sate
ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt, -ˌpen-
compensated; compensating
: to subject to or remedy by physiological compensation
compensated hypertensive patients
: to undergo, experience, or engage in psychological or physiological compensation
his aggression was an attempt to compensate for inherent passivity
Legal Definition
compensate
transitive verb
com·pen·sate
ˈkäm-pən-ˌsāt, -ˌpen-
compensated; compensating
: to make an appropriate and usually counterbalancing payment to
compensate the victims for their injuries
adequately compensated for her work
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