compensate
36 synonyms and 0 antonyms for compensate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To pay someone money to make up for a loss, injury, or inconvenience.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use compensate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin compensare, "to weigh one thing against another," from com- ("together") plus pensare ("to weigh").
Full origin of compensate →Frequently asked questions
What does “compensate” mean?
The word “compensate” means to pay someone money to make up for a loss, injury, or inconvenience. In plain terms, to balance something out — either by paying for a loss or by adjusting to offset a weakness.
How do you pronounce “compensate”?
“Compensate” is pronounced KOM-puhn-sayt (/ˈkɑm.pənˌseɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “compensate” in a sentence?
Here is “compensate” used in a sentence: “The airline compensated passengers for the cancelled flight.”
What is another word for “compensate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “compensate” include reimburse, offset, acclimate, accommodate, accustom and adapt.
What part of speech is “compensate”?
“Compensate” is a verb.
Where does the word “compensate” come from?
The word “compensate” comes from Latin. From Latin compensare, "to weigh one thing against another," from com- ("together") plus pensare ("to weigh").
Is “compensate” a common word?
“Compensate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “compensate” have?
“Compensate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to pay someone money to make up for a loss, injury, or inconvenience.
What is the difference between compensate and reimburse?
Compensate broadly means to pay someone to make up for a loss, injury, or inconvenience, while reimburse specifically means to repay someone for money they already spent, such as expenses. Reimburse is essentially a narrower form of compensation focused on repaying a specific cost.
How is compensate used to describe fixing a weakness rather than paying money?
Compensate also means to make up for a weakness or problem by adjusting something else, such as a design compensating for a mechanical flaw, or a person compensating for poor eyesight with a better sense of hearing. This sense has nothing to do with money.
Is compensate used in both financial and non-financial contexts?
Yes, compensate covers both meanings: paying money to make up for a loss or injury, such as compensating an injured worker, and adjusting or balancing something non-monetary to offset a weakness, such as a team compensating for a weak defense with strong offense.