satisfaction

satisfaction — noun

1. the pleasant feeling that follows from reaching a goal you worked toward, or fro

1.nounB1
Definition

the pleasant feeling that follows from reaching a goal you worked toward, or from finally getting something you hoped for

Example

Takeshi felt a deep sense of satisfaction after finishing his first marathon.

collocation: sense of satisfaction

Faisal smiled with quiet satisfaction when he saw his test results.

collocation: with satisfaction

Common collocations
  • deep satisfaction
  • great satisfaction
  • real satisfaction
  • quiet satisfaction
  • sense of satisfaction
  • feel satisfaction
  • get satisfaction from
  • derive satisfaction from
  • take satisfaction in
  • satisfaction at
  • smile with satisfaction
Synonyms
  • contentment

    a quieter, more lasting state of satisfaction — less about achievement and more about being at peace with what one has

  • fulfillment

    a deeper satisfaction that comes from reaching one's full potential or purpose

  • pleasure

    a broader word for any enjoyable feeling; it does not necessarily involve achievement or effort

  • gratification

    a more formal word for satisfaction, often from having a desire or need met

Antonyms
  • disappointment

    the feeling when something does not happen as you hoped

  • dissatisfaction

    the feeling when something is not good enough or does not meet your expectations

Common Mistakes

I have satisfaction from my job.
I get satisfaction from my job.
The verb 'get' or 'derive' is more natural than 'have' when describing where the feeling comes from.
She felt satisfaction for her success.
She felt satisfaction at her success.
Use 'at' (or 'from') rather than 'for' after 'satisfaction'.

2. a fair and acceptable result that someone gets after making a complaint or exper

2.nounB2
Definition

a fair and acceptable result that someone gets after making a complaint or experiencing a problem, making them feel the issue has been properly dealt with

Example

The customer demanded satisfaction after receiving a damaged sofa.

collocation: demand satisfaction

Adisa received full satisfaction when the store replaced the faulty laptop free of charge.

collocation: receive satisfaction / full satisfaction

Common collocations
  • demand satisfaction
  • seek satisfaction
  • get satisfaction
  • receive satisfaction
  • obtain satisfaction
  • full satisfaction
  • provide satisfaction
Synonyms
  • redress

    a formal or legal word for fixing a wrong; narrower and more official than 'satisfaction'

  • compensation

    money or payment given to make up for damage or loss, whereas satisfaction can be non-monetary (e.g. an apology)

  • restitution

    a formal legal term for returning something to its proper owner or state

Antonyms
  • grievance

    the unresolved complaint itself, before any satisfaction is given

Usage Note

Often used in customer service and legal contexts. Common verbs are 'demand', 'seek', 'get', 'receive', and 'obtain'. The phrase 'to someone's satisfaction' (e.g. 'the matter was resolved to his satisfaction') is also frequent — distinguish that from senses 4 and 5 where the fixed phrase carries a different emphasis.

Common Mistakes

I demanded satisfaction for my broken phone.
I demanded satisfaction for the broken phone I received.
The phrase works best when the specific problem is clear from context.

3. the act of meeting a desire, requirement, or expectation that someone has

3.nounB2
Definition

the act of meeting a desire, requirement, or expectation that someone has

Example

The charity works for the satisfaction of basic needs such as food and clean water.

pattern: satisfaction of + noun

The satisfaction of the workers' demands led to an end of the strike.

Common collocations
  • satisfaction of needs
  • satisfaction of demands
  • satisfaction of wishes
  • satisfaction of expectations
  • customer satisfaction
  • job satisfaction
  • employee satisfaction
Synonyms
  • fulfillment

    nearly identical in meaning; 'fulfillment' emphasises completion while 'satisfaction' emphasises meeting a standard

  • meeting

    a less formal alternative (e.g. 'meeting customer needs'), not a noun here but a gerund

Usage Note

Typically used with 'of' followed by the thing being fulfilled (needs, demands, wishes, expectations). This sense is more abstract and formal than sense 1 — it describes the process or act of meeting a requirement rather than the resulting good feeling.

Common Mistakes

The satisfaction of customer is important.
Customer satisfaction is important.
The possessive or 'of' construction is often dropped in the common compound noun 'customer satisfaction'.

4. a level of proof or explanation that is enough for someone to fully believe some

4.nounB2
Definition

a level of proof or explanation that is enough for someone to fully believe something or accept it as true — for example, proving your identity to a guard's satisfaction, or demonstrating an argument to a critic's satisfaction

Example

The accountant proved to the auditor's satisfaction that every figure was correct.

fixed phrase: to [possessive] satisfaction

Liam showed his ID to the security guard's satisfaction and was allowed inside.

Common collocations
  • to someone's satisfaction
  • to the satisfaction of
  • prove to someone's satisfaction
  • demonstrate to someone's satisfaction
  • show to someone's satisfaction
Synonyms
  • conviction

    the state of being convinced; more formal and focuses on the internal belief rather than the act of proving

Antonyms
  • doubt

    the opposite state — when evidence is not enough to make someone believe

Grammar Patterns

to + possessive + satisfaction

Usage Note

Only used in the fixed phrase 'to [possessive determiner] satisfaction'. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 4 is about being convinced (believe/accept a claim), whereas sense 5 is about being pleased with how something was done (quality/performance).

Common Mistakes

He proved the case to satisfaction of the judge.
He proved the case to the judge's satisfaction.
The possessive form ('judge's', 'everyone's') is required; the pattern is 'to + possessive + satisfaction'.

5. a level of quality in work or behaviour that is good enough to please the person

5.nounB2
Definition

a level of quality in work or behaviour that is good enough to please the person who asked for it — for example, cleaning a room to your mother's satisfaction, or completing a task to your boss's satisfaction

Example

Camila cleaned the whole kitchen to her mother's satisfaction.

fixed phrase: to [possessive] satisfaction

The repair was completed to the landlord's satisfaction and the deposit was returned.

Common collocations
  • to someone's satisfaction
  • to the satisfaction of
  • complete to someone's satisfaction
  • finish to someone's satisfaction
  • do something to someone's satisfaction
Synonyms
  • approval

    a positive judgment or endorsement; 'satisfaction' focuses on meeting a standard, while 'approval' focuses on someone actively saying yes to it

Antonyms
  • displeasure

    the feeling when work quality does not meet expectations

Grammar Patterns

to + possessive + satisfaction

Usage Note

Only used in the fixed phrase 'to [possessive determiner] satisfaction'. Distinguish from sense 4: sense 5 is about being pleased with the quality of something done (performance/result), whereas sense 4 is about being convinced that a claim is true (proof/belief).

Common Mistakes

The work was done to satisfaction of the manager.
The work was done to the manager's satisfaction.
The possessive form is required in this fixed phrase.
Idioms

to somebody’s satisfaction

idiom

In a way that makes someone happy or pleased with the result.

Mia cleaned her room to her mother's satisfaction.

Did the repair work meet your satisfaction, Mr. Chen?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe positive feelings, but they differ in source and intensity. 'Satisfaction' (noun/1) is the feeling of reward after effort or achievement — it has a sense of earned approval. 'Contentment' is quieter and more passive: you are at peace with what you have, without necessarily having achieved anything. 'Fulfillment' runs deeper: it suggests that you have reached a meaningful life goal or realised your potential. 'Gratification' is more formal and often refers to a desire being instantly satisfied (instant gratification). 'Pleasure' is the broadest word of the set, covering any enjoyable feeling — from a nice meal to a beautiful view — without the effort component. For example, you might feel satisfaction after passing a difficult exam, contentment while sitting in a quiet garden, fulfillment from raising a family, gratification from a compliment, and pleasure from a warm bath.

contentmentfulfillmentgratificationpleasure ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • to someone's satisfaction
  • to the satisfaction of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'satisfaction' comes from Latin 'satisfactio' (from 'satis' meaning 'enough' + 'facere' meaning 'to do or make'). It entered English through Old French in the 13th century. The original idea was 'doing enough' to meet a requirement or make amends — which is why the word covers both the feeling of having enough (sense 1) and the act of settling a complaint (sense 2). The two 'to satisfaction' senses (4 and 5) preserve this older idea of meeting a standard or requirement.