1. The act of compensating or the state of being compensated.
2. Something, such as money, given or received as payment or reparation, as for a service or loss.
3. Biology. The increase in size or activity of one part of an organism or organ that makes up for the loss or dysfunction of another.
4. Psychology. Behavior that develops either consciously or unconsciously to offset a real or imagined deficiency, as in personality or physical ability.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.