satisfaction

[sat-is-fak-shuhn]

noun

1. an act of satisfying; fulfillment; gratification.

2. the state of being satisfied; contentment.

   Synonyms: enjoyment, comfort, pleasure
   Antonyms: discontent, displeasure

3. the cause or means of being satisfied.

4. confident acceptance of something as satisfactory, dependable, true, etc.

5. reparation or compensation, as for a wrong or injury.

   Synonyms: recompense, requital, indemnification, indemnity, atonement, expiation, amends

6. the opportunity to redress or right a wrong, as by a duel.

7. payment or discharge, as of a debt or obligation.

   Synonyms: remuneration, repayment

8. Ecclesiastical.

   1. an act of doing penance or making reparation for venial sin.

   2. the penance or reparation made.

satisfaction

/ ˌsætɪsˈfækʃən /

noun

1. the act of satisfying or state of being satisfied

2. the fulfilment of a desire

3. the pleasure obtained from such fulfilment

4. a source of fulfilment

5. reparation or compensation for a wrong done or received

6. RC Church Church of England the performance by a repentant sinner of a penance

7. Christianity the atonement for sin by the death of Christ

Other Word Forms

• satisfactional adjective
• satisfactionless adjective
• nonsatisfaction noun
• presatisfaction noun
• supersatisfaction noun
• undersatisfaction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of satisfaction¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; from Latin satisfactiōn-, stem of satisfactiō “amends, excuse, penalty,” from satisfact(us) “compensated, sufficed” (past participle of satisfacere “to do enough, apologize, compensate,” from satis “enough” + facere “to do, make”) + -iō -ion; replacing Middle English satisfaccioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above; fact, satiate

Word History and Origins

Origin of satisfaction¹

C15: via French from Latin satisfactionem, from satisfacere to _satisfy

Example Sentences

“This is another thing that concrete makes possible,” says Salvesen, the head of the photography, and prints and drawings, departments, noting with satisfaction how flush the photographs sit against the wall.

From Los Angeles Times

But he added a national survey in Wales, England and Scotland conducted by the watchdog found that young people's satisfaction with value for money was lower in Wales than it was elsewhere.

From BBC

Wade overturned in 2022, which would have made him happy, and the right still hates the same people he hated, so there was probably some satisfaction in that.

From Salon

“And that gives me a lot of satisfaction that people are appreciating culture to a level that they’re getting it permanently on their bodies.”

From Los Angeles Times

"I draw satisfaction and meaning, in a life that is probably going to be cut short, from helping other people in that group."

From BBC

Related Words

• achievement 
• amusement 
• comfort 
• contentment 
• delight 
• enjoyment 
• fulfillment 
• gratification 
• happiness 
• joy 
• peace of mind www.thesaurus.com
• pleasure 
• pride 
• relief 
• vindication 
• well-being