compensation

Everyday

1. Compensation is money or something else given to someone to make up for loss, injury or damage. tree →
2. Compensation is something that makes a bad thing feel better: «The only compensation was the ice cream». tree →
3. (formal) Compensation is the pay and benefits for a job. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and news, airlines pay compensation for late flights, and courts order compensation for injuries. In stories, a small good thing is a «compensation» for a big disappointment. Phrases: pay compensation, in compensation, as compensation.

Examples

• The airline paid us compensation for the delay. tree →
• She got compensation after the accident. tree →
• The only compensation for the rain was a cosy film. tree →
• As compensation, the shop gave us a free toy. tree →
• The farmer asked for compensation for his damaged crops. tree →
• Workers want fair compensation. tree →
• But what compensation did he get for having been imprisoned a whole year, and shut out from all communication with his fellow creatures? tree →

Note

Uncountable. Verb «compensate» (for something). In maths problems compensation is money paid, often added to a total.