compensatory
|com/pen/sa/to/ry|
🇺🇸
/ˌkɑmpənˈseɪtəri/
🇬🇧
/ˌkɒmpənˈseɪtəri/
making up for or offsetting loss
Etymology
'compensatory' originates from Latin, specifically the Late Latin/ Medieval Latin word 'compensatorius', where 'com-' meant 'together' and 'pensare' (frequentative of 'pendere') meant 'to weigh' or 'to hang; to pay/consider'.
'compensatorius' led to Old/Medieval French forms (e.g. 'compensatoire') and to English via the verb 'compensate' (from Latin 'compensare'), producing the adjective 'compensatory' in modern English.
Initially related to the idea of 'weighing together' or 'balancing', it evolved into the modern sense of 'making up for or offsetting a loss or deficiency.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
serving to compensate; intended to make up for loss, damage, or deficiency (e.g., compensatory damages).
The court awarded compensatory damages to the plaintiff for the financial loss.
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Adjective 2
relating to behavior or mechanisms that offset or make up for a perceived weakness or deficit (often used in psychology).
His boastful manner was a compensatory response to feelings of insecurity.
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Adjective 3
in biology or physiology, causing or reflecting compensatory adjustment or growth (e.g., compensatory growth after damage).
After the pruning, the tree showed compensatory growth in the remaining branches.
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Last updated: 2025/09/01 17:49