recompense

UK: /ˈrɛkəmpɛns/ US: /ˈrɛkəmˌpɛns/ ,(rek′əm pens′)

Inflections of 'recompense' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

recompenses

v 3rd person singular

recompensing

v pres p

recompensed

v past

recompensed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rec•om•pense /ˈrɛkəmˌpɛns/   v., -pensed, -pens•ing, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to give something to as payment for work done, injury suffered, or favors received.

n. [uncountable]

2. a repayment or reward, as for services, gifts, or favors.
3. something offered to pay for an injury caused;
   reparation:
   not enough money in recompense for the damages.

See -pend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rec•om•pense  (rek′əm pens′), v., -pensed, -pens•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to repay;
   remunerate;
   reward, as for service, aid, etc.
2. to pay or give compensation for;
   make restitution or requital for (damage, injury, or the like).

v.i. 

3. to make compensation for something;
   repay someone:
   no attempt to recompense for our trouble.

n. 

4. compensation, as for an injury, wrong, etc.:
   to make recompense for the loss one's carelessness has caused.
5. a repayment or requital, as for favors, gifts, etc.
6. a remuneration or reward, as for services, aid, or the like.

• Middle French, derivative of recompenser
• Late Latin recompēnsāre, equivalent. to Latin re- re- + compēnsāre (see compensate); (noun, nominal) late Middle English
• Middle French recompenser
• (verb, verbal) late Middle English 1375–1425

rec′om•pen′sa•ble, adj. 
rec′om•pens′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. reimburse, recoup.
• 4. payment, amends, indemnification, satisfaction.
• 4. –6. See reward. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

recompense / ˈrɛkəmˌpɛns/ verb (transitive)

1. to pay or reward for service, work, etc
2. to compensate for loss, injury, etc

noun

1. compensation for loss, injury, etc
2. reward, remuneration, or repayment

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French recompenser, from Latin re- + compensāre to balance in weighing; see compensate

ˈrecomˌpensable adjective

ˈrecomˌpenser noun