Solatium
[sə-LAY-shee-əm]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Latin, early 19th century
1.
(Formal) A thing given to someone as a compensation or consolation.
Examples of Solatium in a sentence
"Management gave the customers who had been overcharged a free item as a solatium."
"Even though his dog came home on her own, Jacob still offered a solatium to everyone who had helped him search."
About Solatium
This word originated from Latin, and it literally translates to "solace." The meaning of "solace" is "comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness."
Did you Know?
The word "solatium" was first used to describe compensation for emotional (rather than physical) injury in the 1800s. The types of "solatia" (the plural) offered depend on the relationship between the two parties. While friends might exchange a hug or a card to make up after a fight, a business will likely offer monetary or physical compensation in exchange for any mishaps — such as serving the wrong dish to a customer at a restaurant. The solatium could be a discount on a bill or an extra dessert, for example.
