gratification
- 01 C1 Advanced
the act of giving someone what they want or satisfying a need.
the act of pleasing or satisfying a desire, appetite, or taste.
Simple“The gratification of every whim can lead to a very spoiled child.”
In context“The study examined how the delayed gratification of physical needs affected the participants' cognitive performance during the experiment.”
UsageCommonly functions as an uncountable noun when referring to the abstract act of satisfying needs.
Synonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
a small amount of money given as a reward for a service.
a gratuity, reward, or payment given in return for a service or favour.
Simple“The traveler offered a small gratification to the guide for his extra help.”
In context“In the eighteenth century, it was customary to provide a modest gratification to domestic staff upon one's departure from a grand estate.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is rare in modern English; 'gratuity' or 'tip' is preferred in almost all contemporary contexts.
From Latin grātificātiō either directly or through Middle French gratification, from Latin grātificō (“to do a favor to, oblige, please, gratify”), from grātus (“kind, pleasing”) + faciō (“to make”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.