recompense
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
To reward or repay someone for effort, loss, or service; or the reward/compensation itself.
Can refer to a formal or legal compensation for damages, a spiritual or moral reward, or the act of making amends.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a noun or a transitive verb. Implies a formal, just, or deserved return, often with a nuance of balancing a loss or injury. Less common in casual speech than 'reward' or 'compensate'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or spelling. Slight preference for the noun form in formal British legal/administrative contexts.
Connotations
Connotes fairness, just deserts, and formal restitution in both varieties. Slightly archaic or literary flavour.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but slightly more common in British English in formal writing (e.g., official documents).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to recompense someone for somethingto recompense someone with somethingsomething is a recompense for somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a labour of love (needs no recompense)”
- “beyond (all) recompense”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in contracts or discussions about compensation for damages, breach, or exceptional service.
Academic
Found in legal, philosophical, or historical texts discussing justice, punishment, and reward.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used humorously or ironically ('And what's my recompense for all this hard work?').
Technical
Used in legal terminology regarding damages and restitution.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company was ordered to recompense the affected homeowners for the structural damage.
- He hoped his efforts would be recompensed with a promotion.
American English
- The court mandated the firm to recompense investors for their losses.
- How can we possibly recompense you for your generosity?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She received a small gift as recompense for her help.
- The hotel offered a free meal in recompense for the noisy room.
- Is there any recompense for working on a holiday?
- The new law ensures victims receive adequate financial recompense.
- No amount of money can truly recompense the trauma they suffered.
- The settlement was deemed a just recompense for the years of patent infringement.
- His sense of moral duty was recompense enough; he sought no public acclaim.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'RECOMPENSE' sounds like 'RECOVER EXPENSE'. When you recompense someone, you help them recover their expense or loss.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A BALANCE (recompense restores the balance of fairness).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'рекомендация' (recommendation).
- Do not confuse with 'компенсация' (compensation) in all contexts; 'recompense' is more formal and can imply reward, not just offsetting a loss.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an intransitive verb (e.g., 'They recompensed for the trouble' – incorrect). Correct: 'They recompensed him for the trouble'.
- Confusing with 'reconcile'.
- Using in informal contexts where 'pay back' or 'reward' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'recompense' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is more frequently used as a noun, especially in formal writing. The verb form is less common.
Yes. It can refer to a reward for good service (positive) or compensation for a loss/injury (negative), though it often implies redressing a wrong.
'Recompense' is more formal and can imply a moral or just return. 'Compensate' is more neutral and widely used, especially in financial/legal contexts. 'Recompense' as a noun is more concrete than 'compensation'.
Not entirely, but it carries a formal, slightly old-fashioned tone. It remains current in legal, philosophical, and formal literary contexts.