compensation
UK: ˌkɒm.pənˈseɪ.ʃən | US: ˌkɑːm.pənˈseɪ.ʃən
n. 1. Something (e.g., money, benefits) given to make up for loss, injury, or effort.
n. 2. The act of balancing or offsetting something undesirable.
n. 3. (Psychology) A subconscious adjustment to counteract a perceived deficiency.
Derived from Latin compensare ("to weigh together, balance"), combining com- (together) + pensare (to weigh). The root pensare also gives rise to words like "pension" (payment) and "pendulum" (weighted swing), reflecting the idea of balancing or measuring value. Over time, "compensation" evolved from literal balancing (e.g., scales) to figurative reparation (e.g., monetary payment).
The company offered financial compensation for the delayed project.
His kindness was compensation for her earlier rudeness.
Workers demanded fair compensation for overtime hours.
In nature, predators and prey exist in a state of compensation.
She overachieved in academics as compensation for her shyness.