Meaning & use
substantial compensation
Last updated
Meanings
phraseuncountableformal
A large amount of money paid to someone to make up for loss, injury or damage.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun phrase; you can say 'a substantial amount of compensation' but not 'a substantial compensation' when talking about the money itself.
Patterns
- award somebody substantial compensation
- receive substantial compensation
- pay substantial compensation
The court awarded her substantial compensation for the injuries she suffered.
After the factory closed, workers received substantial compensation from the company.
The family is seeking substantial compensation for the damage to their home.
phraseuncountablebusinessformal
A significant payment or benefit given to someone in return for work, loss or inconvenience.
Grammar: Often used in business or insurance contexts; can be modified by 'financial' or 'monetary'.
Patterns
- offer substantial compensation
- claim substantial compensation
- substantial compensation package
The airline offered substantial compensation to passengers affected by the long delay.
She negotiated substantial compensation for the extra hours she had worked.
The insurance company agreed to pay substantial compensation for the stolen goods.
Common combinations
- award substantial compensation
- The tribunal awarded substantial compensation to the dismissed employee.
- seek substantial compensation
- The victims are seeking substantial compensation from the manufacturer.
- substantial compensation package
- The CEO received a substantial compensation package when she left.
- pay substantial compensation
- The company had to pay substantial compensation for the pollution.
Synonyms and how they differ
- large damages
- Used in legal contexts for money awarded by a court; 'substantial compensation' is broader and can refer to any large payment, not just a court award.
- hefty payout
- Informal and often implies a single large payment; 'substantial compensation' is formal and can refer to a sum or a package.
Opposites
Word family
- compensate verb
- To pay someone money because they have suffered loss or injury.
- compensatory adjective
- Intended to make up for something bad, as in 'compensatory damages'.
Commonly confused: substantial compensation or substantive compensation?
substantial compensation vs substantive compensation
This would mean compensation related to the substance of a legal claim, not a large amount. 'Substantial' means large; 'substantive' means important or real.
Practice
The court ordered the company to pay ______ compensation to the injured workers.
Choose one answer.
'Substantial' means large in amount, which fits the idea of a big payment. 'Substantive' means important or real, not large; 'substance' is a noun, not an adjective; 'substandard' means below the required standard, which is the opposite of what is needed.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “substantial compensation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.