com ‧ pen ‧ sa ‧ tion AC /ˌkɒmpənˈseɪʃ ə n $ ˌkɑːm-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ compensate ; noun : ↑ compensation ; adjective : ↑ compensatory ]
1 . [uncountable] money paid to someone because they have suffered injury or loss, or because something they own has been damaged
compensation for
compensation for injuries at work
compensation from
She received compensation from the government for the damage caused to her property.
in compensation
The jury awarded Tyler $1.7 million in compensation.
as compensation
The workers were given 30 days’ pay as compensation.
People who are wrongly arrested may be paid compensation.
demand/seek/claim compensation
The parents are seeking compensation for birth defects caused by the drug.
award/grant compensation
The court awarded Jamieson £30,000 compensation.
2 . [uncountable and countable] something that makes a bad situation better:
One of the few compensations of losing my job was seeing more of my family.
by way of compensation (=in order to make a situation better)
By way of compensation he offered to take her out for a meal.
3 . [uncountable and countable] when someone behaves in a particular way in order to replace something that is missing or to balance the bad effects of something
compensation for
Linda’s aggressiveness is just a compensation for her feelings of insecurity.
as compensation (for something)
Lip-reading can act as compensation for loss of hearing.
4 . [uncountable] American English the money someone is paid for doing their job SYN remuneration
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ pay somebody compensation
Passengers will be paid compensation if their baggage is lost or damaged.
▪ receive compensation
Some people have received compensation from the government for the loss of their homes.
▪ be awarded compensation (=be given it)
Many victims have been awarded compensation by the courts.
▪ claim compensation (=ask for it because you have a right to it)
You can claim compensation for unfair dismissal from your job.
▪ seek compensation (=try to get it)
Survivors of the rail disaster are seeking compensation.
▪ demand compensation (=ask for it in an angry way)
Political prisoners are demanding financial compensation.
▪ fight for compensation (=try hard to get it)
Alan, who hurt his back and hasn't worked since, is still fighting for compensation.
▪ offer compensation
The health authority offered compensation to the families.
■ adjectives
▪ financial compensation
You may wish to claim financial compensation.
▪ full compensation (=fully covering the loss, damage etc)
Full compensation is only paid very rarely.
▪ partial compensation (=partly covering your loss, damage etc)
The woman received partial compensation of £5,000.
■ compensation + NOUN
▪ a compensation claim
He was seeking legal advice on a compensation claim.
▪ a compensation payment
UK farmers may be in line for compensation payments.
▪ a compensation scheme (=system for providing compensation)
There is a compensation scheme for radiation-linked diseases.