Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of compensating for service, loss, or injury: The action of providing something, typically money, to make up for a service rendered, a loss suffered, or an injury incurred.
   • (Psychiatry) A defense mechanism: An unconscious psychological process where a person makes up for perceived weaknesses or shortcomings in one area by emphasizing strengths or successes in another area.
   • Something given or received as payment or reparation: A thing, especially a sum of money, awarded to someone in recognition of loss, suffering, or injury, or for work performed.

Usage and Examples

• General Usage (Payment/Reparation):
  • The company offered financial compensation to the workers for the overtime.
  • Victims of the accident received compensation for their injuries.
• Usage in Psychiatry/Psychology:
  • His aggressive ambition was seen as compensation for deep-seated insecurities.
• Usage in General Contexts (Making up for something):
  • The beautiful scenery was some compensation for the long, difficult hike.

Advanced Usage

• "In compensation for": As a payment or reward to make up for something.
  • He received a bonus in compensation for his extra duties.
• "As compensation": Serving the purpose of making up for a loss or service.
  • She accepted the promotion as compensation for years of loyal service.

Variants and Related Words

• Compensate (verb): To make up for something; to pay someone money for work done or for a loss.
  • The insurance policy will compensate you for the stolen items.
• Compensatory (adjective): Intended to compensate or make up for something.
  • The court awarded compensatory damages to the plaintiff.

Synonyms

• Recompense: Payment or reward given for something.
• Indemnity: Security or protection against a loss, or compensation for a loss.
• Reparation: The making of amends for a wrong or injury, often through payment.

Antonyms

• Penalty: A punishment imposed for breaking a rule or law.
• Forfeiture: The loss or giving up of something as a penalty for wrongdoing.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• "Overcompensation": Excessive compensation, especially as a psychological defense mechanism where someone tries too hard to make up for a real or imagined deficiency.
  • His flashy car is just overcompensation for his lack of confidence.

Noun

1. the act of compensating for service or loss or injury
2. (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that conceals your undesirable shortcomings by exaggerating desirable behaviors
3. something (such as money) given or received as payment or reparation (as for a service or loss or injury)