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.
Synonyms
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
Governments can also do much to compensate for an overall decline in the traditional working-age population.
—Vegard Skirbekk, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
Trump, who quickly disavowed the individual, sought to compensate for controversy by taking the stage in Pittsburgh on Monday with the son of Puerto Rican baseball legend Roberto Clemente, in the city where his late father once played for the Pirates.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
The Georgia Supreme Court overruled a Cobb County judge who had extended the deadline until 5pm on Friday, to compensate for the delay in sending out the ballots.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
And according to reports, Trump was given free airtime during NBC's NASCAR coverage yesterday to compensate for Harris's appearance.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for compensate 
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Vegard Skirbekk, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
Trump, who quickly disavowed the individual, sought to compensate for controversy by taking the stage in Pittsburgh on Monday with the son of Puerto Rican baseball legend Roberto Clemente, in the city where his late father once played for the Pirates.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
The Georgia Supreme Court overruled a Cobb County judge who had extended the deadline until 5pm on Friday, to compensate for the delay in sending out the ballots.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
And according to reports, Trump was given free airtime during NBC's NASCAR coverage yesterday to compensate for Harris's appearance.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for compensate
Dictionary Entries Near compensate
Cite this Entry
“Compensate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compensate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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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