Compensation
Compensation noun - Something (as money) that is given or received in return for goods or services.
Usage example: fair compensation for his work on the project
Pay is a synonym for compensation in earnings topic. In some cases you can use "Pay" instead the word "Compensation" as a noun or a verb, when it comes to topics like repayment. popular alternative
Pay
Pay noun - The money paid regularly to a person for labor or services.
Usage example: it's difficult to support two children on her pay
Compensation is a synonym for pay in earnings topic. You can use "Compensation" instead a noun "Pay", if it concerns topics such as wages, earnings from employment. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
How words are described
Both words in one sentence
- William Hamleigh in Pillars of the Earth, a spoiled and sadistic noble, whom, when his peasants cannot pay their taxes, rapes their wives and daughters as compensation.
- The Libyans did eventually pay her family compensation, but NATO still helped overthrow Gaddafi's regime in 2011.
Source: Diplomatic Impunity -
In real life, Ray refused to play, but he only ended up having to pay the promoter compensation.
Source: Film / Ray
Cite this Source
Pay and Compensation. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/compensation/pay
Compensation & Pay. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/compensation/pay>.
Pay or Compensation. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/compensation/pay.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "compensation" and "pay" have occurred on timeline