remedy

1 of 2

noun

rem·​e·​dy ˈre-mə-dē How to pronounce remedy (audio)
plural remedies
1
: a medicine, application, or treatment that relieves or cures a disease
2
: something that corrects or counteracts
3
: the legal means to recover a right or to prevent or obtain redress for a wrong
remediless adjective

remedy

2 of 2

verb

remedied; remedying

transitive verb

: to provide or serve as a remedy for : relieve
remedy a social evil
Choose the Right Synonym for remedy

correct, rectify, emend, remedy, redress, amend, reform, revise mean to make right what is wrong.

correct implies taking action to remove errors, faults, deviations, defects.

correct your spelling

rectify implies a more essential changing to make something right, just, or properly controlled or directed.

rectify a misguided policy

emend specifically implies correction of a text or manuscript.

emend a text

remedy implies removing or making harmless a cause of trouble, harm, or evil.

set out to remedy the evils of the world

redress implies making compensation or reparation for an unfairness, injustice, or imbalance.

redress past social injustices

amend, reform, revise imply an improving by making corrective changes, amend usually suggesting slight changes

amend a law

, reform implying drastic change

plans to reform the court system

, and revise suggesting a careful examination of something and the making of necessary changes.

revise the schedule

Examples of remedy in a Sentence

Noun Building more roads isn't always the best remedy for traffic congestion. The problem was beyond remedy. She was left without remedy since the court did not recognize her claim. Verb Something must be done to remedy the problem. The conflict can be remedied by scheduling the meeting for next week.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The city has since come into compliance, but because the developers submitted their application before Housing and Community Development approved La Cañada’s housing element plan, the builder’s remedy provision remained an option. Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Jinhua has not agreed to a recall or to offer a remedy for customers, according to the CPSC. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2024 If listed in inspection reports, remedies implemented during the inspection are noted. Michael Braga, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 Research finds about 80 percent of U.S. trade remedies cases seek to limit imports of raw materials or intermediate inputs needed by the petitioners’ customers to produce their goods and services. Dan Ikenson, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Talk to a health care provider if at-home remedies don't adequately manage your morning sickness symptoms. Lisa Milbrand, Parents, 28 Feb. 2024 But the battleground state could become a prime target in the immediate days before elections, with little time for remedy. Journal Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2024 Consumers’ only remedy — calling customer service — is its own journey through hell. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024 While all of the remedies mentioned above are supported by research, there are plenty more that could ultimately prove to be beneficial—or bogus. Markham Heid, TIME, 9 Feb. 2024
Verb
To remedy this de-emphasis on starting pitching, the league is floating the possibility of reducing the size of teams’ pitching staffs by one, from 13 to 12, and potentially doing it as soon as next year. Jared Wyllys, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Stains that are left to sit that long could end up impossible to get out, so do your best to remedy them before tucking things away for the season. Abby Ferguson, Popular Science, 28 Feb. 2024 Because this act proved devastating to tribes, Congress enacted the Indian Reorganization Act in 1934 in an attempt to remedy the harmful effects of allotment and to promote tribal self-governance. Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 If none of these options remedy the problem or if the force quit menu won't open, restart your computer. USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2024 The thermostat features a monitor that alerts you to smoke detection, as well as poor air quality and offers tips to remedy it as well. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2024 The shape of the new Dyson tool aims to remedy that. Annie Blay, Allure, 9 Feb. 2024 Automated patching systems to manage all global assets are effective for remedying this issue and can provide real-time fixes to mitigate risk better than with just a human eye. Candan Bolukbas, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 But beyond that benefit, some folks simply don't like the feeling of something right up against their eyes, and the design remedies this issue. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English remedie, from Anglo-French, from Latin remedium, from re- + mederi to heal — more at medical

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of remedy was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near remedy

Cite this Entry

“Remedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/remedy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

remedy

1 of 2 noun
rem·​e·​dy ˈrem-əd-ē How to pronounce remedy (audio)
plural remedies
1
: a medicine or treatment that cures or relieves
2
: something that corrects an evil, rights a wrong, or makes up for a loss

remedy

2 of 2 verb
remedied; remedying
: to provide or serve as a remedy for : relieve

Medical Definition

remedy

noun
rem·​e·​dy ˈrem-əd-ē How to pronounce remedy (audio)
plural remedies
: a medicine, application, or treatment that relieves or cures a disease
remedy transitive verb
remedied; remedying

Legal Definition

remedy

1 of 2 noun
rem·​e·​dy
plural remedies
: the means to enforce a right or to prevent or obtain redress for a wrong : the relief (as damages, restitution, specific performance, or an injunction) that may be given or ordered by a court or other tribunal for a wrong
if the contract is null and void, the remedy is to rescind and to put the parties in the position in which they were prior to the attempted agreementFirst Nat'l Mortgage Corp. v. The Manhattan Life Ins. Co., 360 So. 2d 264 (1978)
specific performance and other equitable remedies
remediless adjective

remedy

2 of 2 transitive verb
remedied; remedying
: to provide or serve as a remedy for

More from Merriam-Webster on remedy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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