Definition

1. Noun:
   • Legal compensation for proven losses: "Compensatory damages" is a legal term for a sum of money awarded to a plaintiff to compensate for actual, proven losses or injuries suffered. The purpose is to restore the injured party, as much as money can, to the position they were in before the harm occurred. This covers quantifiable losses like medical expenses, lost wages, and property repair costs.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The court awarded the plaintiff $50,000 in compensatory damages for his medical bills and lost income.
  • Compensatory damages are distinct from punitive damages, which are intended to punish the defendant.

Advanced Usage

• "General compensatory damages": Compensation for non-economic losses that are more subjective, such as pain and suffering or emotional distress.

  • The jury considered her emotional trauma when calculating general compensatory damages.

• "Special compensatory damages": Compensation for specific, out-of-pocket economic losses that can be precisely calculated with receipts and bills.

  • Special compensatory damages covered the exact cost of the car repairs and the rental vehicle.

Variants and Related Words

• Damages (n): The general term for a monetary award in a civil lawsuit.

  • The company was ordered to pay substantial damages.

• Punitive damages (n): Damages intended to punish the defendant for outrageous conduct and deter future similar behavior, rather than to compensate the plaintiff.

  • The jury added punitive damages on top of the compensatory award due to the company's reckless actions.

Synonyms

• Actual damages: A synonym often used interchangeably with compensatory damages.
• Compensation: A more general term for payment intended to make up for a loss or injury.

Related Phrases

• To award compensatory damages: The legal act of granting this type of compensation.

  • The judge has the authority to award compensatory damages to the victim.

• To seek compensatory damages: The act of asking the court for this type of compensation.

  • In her lawsuit, she will seek compensatory damages for her financial losses.

Noun

1. (law) compensation for losses that can readily be proven to have occurred and for which the injured party has the right to be compensated