# compensate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈkɒm.pən.seɪt/ · frequency rank #9,862

## Definitions
1. To do (something good) after (something bad) happens.
2. To pay or reward someone in exchange for work done or some other consideration.
3. To make up for; to do something in place of something else; to correct, satisfy; to reach an agreement such that the scales are literally or (metaphorically) balanced; to equalize or make even.
4. To adjust or adapt to a change, often a harm or deprivation.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin compēnsātus, perfect passive participle of compensō (“to weight together one thing against another, balance, make good”), -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more.

## Easily confused with
- **condensate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compensate-vs-condensate)
- **compensated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compensate-vs-compensated)

## Common misspellings (15)
`ccompensate`, `cmopensate`, `comepnsate`, `commpensate`, `compenaste`, `compennsate`, `compensaet`, `compensatte`, `compenssate`, `compenstae`, `compesnate`, `compnesate`, `comppensate`, `copmensate`, `ocmpensate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/compensate