Dictionary

gratification en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˌɡɹætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

Etymology

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”).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The act of gratifying or pleasing, either the mind, or the appetite or taste.
   • Many of the so-called rites of these secret societies were so patently ridiculous, that it is quite obvious that they were merely an excuse for men and women to indulge in sex-play and lustful gratification, frequently of an abnormal kind. 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 161:
   • gratification of the heart    gratification of the palate
   • I know nothing of Mr. Courtenaye; but I can perceive enough of this affair to see that he is one of those who, for a moment's selfish gratification, or for the yet meaner love of gratified vanity, will excite the deepest feelings, and trifle with the dearest hopes of all who trust them! 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 295–296:
2. (countable, uncountable) A gratuity; a reward.
3. (uncountable) A feeling of pleasure; satisfaction.
   • To my gratification he told me I could reënter the institution, and that he would trust me to pay the debt when I could. 1900, Booker T[aliaferro] Washington, “Helping Others”, in Up from Slavery: An Autobiography, New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Co., published 1901, →OCLC, page 66:
   • I will tell you all my faults frankly beforehand. I am very vain, for I cultivate my vanity on a principle, and cannot understand why we should neglect such a source of gratification. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Confidence”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 102:

Forms

Deriveds

self-gratification · overgratification · oral gratification

Relateds

gratify

Synonyms

fruition · gladness · delight · gladness · enjoyment

Translations (38)

ru вознаграждение (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · ru удовольствие (feeling of pleasure — see also satisfaction) · pl gratyfikacja (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · ru удовлетворение (act of gratifying or pleasing) · id gratifikasi (act of gratifying or pleasing) · fi tyydytys (act of gratifying or pleasing) · de Befriedigung (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · bg задоволство (act of gratifying or pleasing) · fr gratification (act of gratifying or pleasing) · hu jutalmazás (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · eo gratifo (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · hu kielégülés (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · ru ублажение (act of gratifying or pleasing) · pl gratyfikacja (feeling of pleasure — see also satisfaction) · fi mielihyvä (feeling of pleasure — see also satisfaction) · it gratificazione (act of gratifying or pleasing) · hu jutalom (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · fi palkinto (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · fi hyvitys (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · bg възнаграждение (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · fr récompense (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · ca gratificació (act of gratifying or pleasing) · fi tyydyttäminen (act of gratifying or pleasing) · fi miellyttäminen (act of gratifying or pleasing) · pt gratificação (act of gratifying or pleasing) · fi lahja (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · fi tyytyväisyys (feeling of pleasure — see also satisfaction) · no tilfredsstille (act of gratifying or pleasing) · ru удовлетворение (feeling of pleasure — see also satisfaction) · eo gratifikacio (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · hu kielégítés (act of gratifying or pleasing) · pdt Befrädjunk (act of gratifying or pleasing) · no glede (act of gratifying or pleasing) · nl gratificatie (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · id gratifikasi (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward) · bg удовлетворение (act of gratifying or pleasing) · ga sásamh (feeling of pleasure — see also satisfaction) · eo gratifiko (gratuity; reward — see also gratuity, reward)