remedial

adjective

re·​me·​di·​al ri-ˈmē-dē-əl How to pronounce remedial (audio)
1
: intended as a remedy
2
: concerned with the correction of faulty study habits and the raising of a pupil's general competence
remedial reading courses
also : receiving or requiring remedial instruction
remedial students
remedially adverb

Examples of remedial in a Sentence

Officials have pledged remedial action to repair damaged bridges. Thirty percent of the new students need remedial classes in math. He's taking a course in remedial reading.
Recent Examples on the Web In the present life as a public interment ground, Wilmington Cemetery ticked all the check marks of far too many historic cemeteries in need of remedial care: neglect as families died off or departed, poor management and even poorer maintenance, an unending series of owners. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Plaisance and Marinovich are among residents who think remedial efforts began too late. Kevin McGill and Stephen Smith The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2023 The remedial work of man to give oysters a new lease on life is very heavy lifting, assuring that water beds are adequately prepped with shell or rock for new and developing oyster colonies, and then seeded and followed for six years. Louise Schiavone, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 The descriptions are easy enough for kids to follow but not so remedial an adult will lose interest. James Patrick, Sacramento Bee, 25 Jan. 2024 When families are facing other issues, such as a parent’s drug addiction or untreated mental health condition, DFCS often steps in and provides remedial services. Stephannie Stokes, ProPublica, 18 Jan. 2024 The attorney general has the power — but, alas, never in a million years, the inclination — to put the school under remedial care, with a new board. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 11 Jan. 2024 There is a finite amount of money to address cleanup each year and a shallow groundwater table in our area complicates remedial efforts. Patrick Ceres, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2024 The Justice Department also gave H.W. Wood credit for its cooperation and noted its remedial efforts, including improvements to its compliance program. David Smagalla, WSJ, 20 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'remedial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of remedial was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near remedial

Cite this Entry

“Remedial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/remedial. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

remedial

adjective
re·​me·​di·​al ri-ˈmēd-ē-əl How to pronounce remedial (audio)
: intended to make something better
remedial measures
remedial classes

Medical Definition

remedial

adjective
re·​me·​di·​al ri-ˈmēd-ē-əl How to pronounce remedial (audio)
: affording a remedy : intended as a remedy
remedial surgery
remedially adverb

Legal Definition

remedial

adjective
re·​me·​di·​al ri-ˈmē-dē-əl How to pronounce remedial (audio)
1
a
: intended as or providing a remedy
b
: concerned with the correction, removal, or abatement of an evil, defect, or disease
remedial treatment of an inmate to improve behavior
a workers' compensation claimant who received remedial attention from a doctor
a remedial statute correcting the previous law
2
: of, relating to, or being a law enacted for the purpose of providing a method of enforcing an already existing substantive right : procedural

More from Merriam-Webster on remedial

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