compensatory
Definition
- Adjective:
- Serving to offset or make up for a loss, deficiency, or imbalance: "compensatory" describes something that is intended to compensate for something else, such as a loss, injury, or shortcoming.
- Providing reparation or adjustment: In a technical or legal sense, it refers to actions or mechanisms that restore equilibrium or provide redress.
Usage Examples
- (A financial payment to offset the loss of employment.)
- (Extra schooling provided to make up for educational deficits.)
- (A technical device that corrects an imbalance.)
Advanced Usage
"compensatory damages": In law, damages awarded to compensate for actual loss or injury, as opposed to punitive damages.
- The court ordered compensatory damages to cover the plaintiff's medical expenses. (Monetary compensation for real, measurable harm.)
"compensatory time": Time off from work given to an employee in lieu of overtime pay.
- He chose compensatory time rather than extra pay for working on the holiday. (Time off granted as compensation for extra hours worked.)
Variants and Related Words
Compensate (verb): to make up for something; to provide recompense.
- The insurance will compensate you for the stolen items. (Pay you for the loss.)
Compensation (noun): the act or process of compensating; something given as recompense.
- She received compensation for the damage to her car. (Payment or other benefit.)
Compensatory (adjective): the standard form; the word itself.
Synonyms
- Restorative: serving to bring back to a previous state or condition.
- Remedial: intended to correct or improve a deficiency.
- Offsetting: balancing or counteracting something.
Related Idioms
Make amends: to compensate for a wrong or injury.
- He tried to make amends for his mistake by working extra hours. (To provide compensation or reparation.)
Settle the score: to repay a debt or compensate for a past wrong.
- The settlement helped settle the score between the two parties. (To balance accounts.)