Legal Definitions - compensate

compensate (kom-pən-sayt), vb.

1. To pay someone for services they have provided.
2. To make up for a loss or injury by giving something in return.

• The company compensated the workers for their overtime by giving them extra pay.
• The airline compensated the passengers for the delay by offering them vouchers for future flights.
• The government compensated the victims of the natural disaster by providing them with financial aid.

The examples illustrate how compensate means to give something in return for a service or loss. In the first example, the workers were compensated with extra pay for their overtime work. In the second example, the airline compensated the passengers for the inconvenience caused by the delay. In the third example, the government compensated the victims of the natural disaster for their losses by providing them with financial aid.