compensate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'compensate' is correct and usable in written English.
It refers to the act of providing something to make up for a loss or an injury. Example sentence: The insurance company agreed to compensate her for the cost of the damages to her car.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For the teenager's father, nothing can compensate for the death of his son.

The Guardian

BP says it is vigorously defending the case, arguing that it took significant steps to compensate farmers for laying the pipeline on their land and to ensure that no harm was caused.

The Guardian

A more business-friendly regulatory regime and the new security of the City of London from European interference will enhance competitiveness and compensate for the partial loss of access to the European market".

The Guardian

Buoyed by the support of the UN, Gordon Brown last year became the first global leader to publicly call for its introduction as a way for banks to compensate society for causing the global financial crisis.

The Guardian - Business

Palace, who had to compensate for the early loss of Kagisho Dikgacoi to injury, had pinned their opponents back for long spells of the second half.

The Guardian - Sport

If it's frustrating for him to see Michael Bradley's Toronto experience consolidating rather than threatening his USA place, or indeed Julio Cesar's position as number one keeper for the presumptive World Cup favorites being equally unaffected by his MLS sojourn, Defoe will have plenty to occupy him in the coming weeks to help his side compensate for the absence of those two.

The Guardian - Sport

Furthermore, Younger says if you decide to ditch bottled water, you don't need to compensate by filtering what comes out of the tap.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Recently when drunk he admitted in an answerphone machine that he had been impotent from a very early age, and that he had been trying to find ways to compensate for this heavy and painful secret.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Related: Real Madrid 7-3 Getafe | La Liga match report There are certainly enough options to make a reasonable argument that United's more glaring issue this summer will not theoretically be replacing De Gea but planning for the other end of the pitch and how to compensate for the fact that all three of their main strikers are, to varying degrees, on the wane.

The Guardian - Sport

Ukip has won control of its first UK council, in Thanet, a result that will help to compensate for Nigel Farage's failure to win a parliamentary seat in the area in Thursday's general election.

The Guardian

For its first few years, Concorde consistently lost money, and when its owners raised ticket prices to compensate, they were accused of running a service exclusively for the rich.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "compensate", clearly state what is being compensated for and what form the compensation takes. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "compensate" when you mean "complement". "Compensate" means to make up for a deficiency, while "complement" means to enhance or complete something. For example, don't say "The bright colors compensate the design" when you mean "The bright colors complement the design".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "compensate" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object to receive the action of making amends or providing recompense. It can also be used intransitively, often followed by a preposition like "for". Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Opinion

5%

Travel

3%

Music

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "compensate" is a versatile verb used to describe the act of making up for a loss, injury, or deficiency. Ludwig AI confirms that "compensate" is grammatically correct and commonly used. This guide highlights its various applications, from financial settlements to adjusting for shortcomings. As demonstrated by Ludwig, "compensate" frequently appears in news articles, business documents, and sports reports. Remember to clearly state what is being "compensated" for and what form the compensation takes to avoid ambiguity. While "compensate" is often confused with "complement", understanding their distinct meanings ensures precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make up for

Indicates providing something to balance or correct a deficiency.

make amends

Focuses on repairing a relationship or situation after wrongdoing.

make restitution

Implies restoring something lost or damaged to its rightful owner or condition.

offset

Suggests counterbalancing one thing with another to neutralize its effect.

reimburse

Specifically refers to repaying someone for expenses incurred.

repay

Highlights the act of giving back something that was borrowed or owed.

redress

Suggests correcting something that is wrong or unfair.

indemnify

Promises security against loss or damage.

atone

Emphasizes making amends for sin or wrongdoing.

requite

Implies returning a favor or service.

FAQs

How can I use "compensate" in a sentence?

You can use "compensate" to describe providing something to make up for a loss or injury. For example, "The company will "compensate" employees for their overtime work".

What are some alternatives to saying "compensate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "make amends", "make up for", or "reimburse".

Is it correct to say "compensate for" or "compensate with"?

While "compensate for" is more common, "compensate with" can be used when specifying what is being used to make up for the loss. For example, "They "compensated" the damage with a generous donation".

What's the difference between "compensate" and "reimburse"?

"Compensate" is a broader term that means to make up for a loss or injury, while "reimburse" specifically refers to repaying someone for expenses they have incurred.