What does recompensing mean?
Recompensing is the present-participle or gerund form of “recompense,” a verb meaning to compensate someone again for a loss, expense, injury, or other harm. The word is used when a person or organization provides a second payment, reimbursement, or other remedy after an initial loss or payment has been recognized. Its use may involve money, but compensation can also take the form of replacing damaged property, covering costs, or otherwise restoring someone to the position they would have occupied had the harm not occurred. The word appears in formal and legal contexts as well as in reports about insurance claims, recalls, disputes, and customer compensation. Compared with the more general “compensate,” “recompense” often suggests compensation that is additional or renewed.
verbTo compensate someone again for a loss, expense, injury, or other harm.
- To compensate someone again for a loss, expense, injury, or other harm.
- To give compensation or payment to someone again.
"The company is recompensing affected customers after the faulty product recall."
"The insurer is recompensing homeowners for the damage caused by the storm."
"After reviewing the complaint, the charity decided it was recompensing the volunteer for the travel expenses she had covered."
Recompensing means making someone whole again—especially when a second payment or remedy is required.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does recompensing come from?
The word comes from French “recompenser,” meaning to reward or repay, and ultimately from Latin “compensare,” meaning to weigh together or balance against another. English “recompense” has long been used for repayment, compensation, or reward. The prefix “re-” in “recompensing” indicates compensation being provided again.
Related word forms
How recompensing is actually used
This form is less common than the base verb “recompense” and is normally used when compensation is being provided again or when the action is ongoing. It is standard in British and American English.
Easily confused with recompensing
“Recompense” can be a verb meaning to compensate or a noun meaning compensation or repayment, while “recompensing” is specifically the verb’s present-participle or gerund form.
“Reimburse” usually means to repay money that someone has spent or advanced, whereas “recompensing” can include compensation in forms other than money.