/ ˌsætɪsˈfækʃn; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U , C ] the good feeling that you have when you have achieved sth or when sth that you wanted to happen does happen; sth that gives you this feeling :
to gain / get / derive satisfaction from sth
a look / smile of satisfaction
She looked back on her career with great satisfaction .
He had the satisfaction of seeing his book become a best-seller.
She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
The company is trying to improve customer satisfaction .
He was enjoying all the satisfactions of being a parent.
—see also dissatisfaction
2.
[ U ] the act of fulfilling a need or desire :
the satisfaction of sexual desires
the satisfaction of your ambitions
3.
[ U ] ( formal ) an acceptable way of dealing with a complaint, a debt, an injury, etc. :
I complained to the manager but I didn't get any satisfaction.
•
IDIOMS
- to sb's satisfaction
••
SYNONYMS
satisfaction
happiness ♦ contentment ♦ fulfilment ♦ glee
These are all words for the good feeling that you have when you are happy or when you have achieved sth.
satisfaction
the good feeling that you have when you have achieved sth or when sth that you wanted to happen does happen:
He derived great satisfaction from knowing that his son was happy.
happiness
the good feeling that you have when you are happy:
Money can't buy you happiness.
contentment
( rather formal ) a feeling of happiness or satisfaction with what you have:
They found contentment in living a simple life.
fulfilment
a feeling of happiness or satisfaction with what you do or have done:
her search for personal fulfilment
satisfaction, happiness, contentment or fulfilment?
You can feel satisfaction at achieving almost anything, small or large; you feel fulfilment when you do sth useful and enjoyable with your life. Happiness is the feeling you have when things give you pleasure and can be quite a lively feeling; contentment is a quieter feeling that you get when you have learned to find pleasure in things.
glee
a feeling of happiness, usually because sth good has happened to you, or sth bad has happened to sb else:
She couldn't disguise her glee at their embarrassment.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
great satisfaction / happiness / contentment / fulfilment / glee
true / real satisfaction / happiness / contentment / fulfilment
quiet satisfaction / contentment
to feel satisfaction / happiness / contentment / glee
to give / bring sb satisfaction / happiness / contentment / fulfilment
to find satisfaction / happiness / contentment / fulfilment in sth
to gain satisfaction / happiness / contentment / fulfilment from sth
to rub your hands in / with satisfaction / glee at sth
a look / smile of satisfaction / happiness / contentment / glee
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French , or from Latin satisfactio(n-) , from satisfacere satisfy, content, from satis enough + facere make.