Added 9 October 2026
compensate
/ˈkɒm.pən.seɪt/ verb
In Latin: compensō Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about compensate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- To do (something good) after (something bad) happens.
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To pay or reward someone in exchange for work done or some other consideration.
It is hard work, but they will compensate you well for it.
-
To make up for; to do something in place of something else; to correct, satisfy; to reach an agreement such that the scales are literally or (metaphorically) balanced; to equalize or make even.
His loud voice cannot compensate for a lack of personality.
Origin
Borrowed from Latin compēnsātus, perfect passive participle of compensō (“to weight together one thing against another, balance, make good”), -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)