To compensate is to give something, usually money or help, to make up for a loss, damage, or effort. It can also mean to balance out a weakness by developing another strength.
From Latin *compensare* “to weigh together, balance,” from *com-* “together” + *pensare* “to weigh.” The idea is bringing things back into balance when something has been taken away or is uneven.
Your brain constantly compensates for blind spots in your vision by filling in what it ‘expects’ to see. In life, we do similar things—people often develop humor, skill, or sensitivity to compensate for early disadvantages.
Discussions of compensation intersect with gender pay gaps and the historic underpayment or nonpayment of women's labor, especially in care and domestic work. Women and marginalized genders have had to fight for equal compensation for equal work.
Use 'compensate' with awareness of historical inequities; avoid framing efforts to correct pay gaps as special favors rather than overdue fairness.
["pay fairly","make restitution"]
Women have organized for fair compensation through unions, professional associations, and social movements, reshaping labor laws and norms.
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