- the act of satisfying or state of being satisfied
- the fulfilment of a desire
- the pleasure obtained from such fulfilment
- a source of fulfilment
- reparation or compensation for a wrong done or received
- the performance by a repentant sinner of a penance
- the atonement for sin by the death of Christ
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
sat•is•fac•tion /ˌsætɪsˈfækʃən/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the state or feeling of being satisfied:a feeling of satisfaction at a job well done.
- a cause or means of fulfilling a need.
- the condition of being confident of something as satisfactory, etc.:The work was done to the boss's satisfaction.
- money or action to pay for a wrong or injury:demanded satisfaction for the harm done.
sat•is•fac•tion
(sat′is fak′shən),USA pronunciation n.
sat′is•fac′tion•al, adj.
sat′is•fac′tion•less, adj.
- an act of satisfying;
fulfillment;
gratification. - the state of being satisfied;
contentment. - the cause or means of being satisfied.
- confident acceptance of something as satisfactory, dependable, true, etc.
- reparation or compensation, as for a wrong or injury.
- the opportunity to redress or right a wrong, as by a duel.
- payment or discharge, as of a debt or obligation.
- Religion[Eccles.]
- an act of doing penance or making reparation for venial sin.
- the penance or reparation made.
- Latin, as above
- Anglo-French
- Latin satisfactiōn- (stem of satisfactiō) a doing enough, equivalent. to satisfact(us) (past participle of satisfacere, equivalent. to satis enough + facere to make, do1) + -iōn- -ion; replacing Middle English satisfaccioun
- 1250–1300
sat′is•fac′tion•less, adj.
- 2. enjoyment, pleasure, comfort. 5. amends, expiation, atonement, indemnity, indemnification, requital, recompense. 7. repayment, remuneration.
- 2. displeasure, discontent.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
satisfaction /ˌsætɪsˈfækʃən/ n