recompense

1 of 2

verb

rec·​om·​pense ˈre-kəm-ˌpen(t)s 

recompensed; recompensing

transitive verb

1

a

: to give something to by way of compensation (as for a service rendered or damage incurred)

b

: to pay for

2

: to return in kind : requite

recompense

2 of 2

noun

: an equivalent or a return for something done, suffered, or given : compensation

offered in recompense for injuries

Synonyms

Verb

• compensate
• pay
• remunerate

Noun

• compensation
• damages
• indemnification
• indemnity
• quittance
• recoupment
• redress
• remuneration
• reparation
• reprisal(s)
• requital
• restitution
• satisfaction

Choose the Right Synonym for recompense

pay, compensate, remunerate, satisfy, reimburse, indemnify, repay, recompense mean to give money or its equivalent in return for something.

pay implies the discharge of an obligation incurred.

paid their bills

compensate implies a making up for services rendered.

an attorney well compensated for her services

remunerate clearly suggests paying for services rendered and may extend to payment that is generous or not contracted for.

promised to remunerate the searchers handsomely

satisfy implies paying a person what is required by law.

all creditors will be satisfied in full

reimburse implies a return of money that has been spent for another's benefit.

reimbursed employees for expenses

indemnify implies making good a loss suffered through accident, disaster, warfare.

indemnified the families of the dead miners

repay stresses paying back an equivalent in kind or amount.

repay a favor with a favor

recompense suggests due return in amends, friendly repayment, or reward.

passengers were recompensed for the delay

Examples of recompense in a Sentence

Verb

the cash-strapped museum can recompense lecturers with only token honorariums

that company still needs to recompense the work that the contractor finished last month

Noun

He is asking for a just recompense for the work he's done.

He received $10,000 in recompense for his injuries.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The farmers argue that they should be recompensed by Texas under the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment. —Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Jan. 2024

Thurber complained to him about being asked to recompense The New Yorker for a sixty-dollar overpayment; writers got paid by the word (still do), and the accounting department had calculated that the final word count on a certain Thurber story was less than the original word count. —Mary Norris, The New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2023

Noun

Both parties are now seeking financial recompense from the other. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 June 2024

As recompense, the company is offering two free months of its subscription service, which is required for most of its functionality. —Wes Davis, The Verge, 5 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French recompenser, from Late Latin recompensare, from Latin re- + compensare to compensate

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

recompense

verb

rec·​om·​pense

ˈrek-əm-ˌpen(t)s

recompensed; recompensing

: to pay for or pay back

recompense noun