corrective

adjective

cor·​rec·​tive kə-ˈrek-tiv 

: intended to correct

corrective lenses

corrective punishment

corrective noun

correctively adverb

Synonyms

• reformative
• beneficial
• remedial

Examples of corrective in a Sentence

She had corrective surgery on her knee this past summer.

People with bad eyesight usually need to wear corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Recent Examples on the Web

Furthermore, additional attention to the matter appears to be resulting in voluntary corrective action. —Patrick Gleason, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

Few drug classes undergo such continuous surveillance and are subject to such swift corrective action when genuine risks emerge. —Jake Scott, The Conversation, 26 June 2025

That prompted the grid operators to take corrective steps again, which increased the voltages on the grid. —ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025

The 6-0 vote followed St. Hope’s submission of a corrective plan in response to troubling revelations about the schools governance, finance and operations revealed in a third-party audit. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing corrective

• self-corrective

Rhymes for corrective

• advective
• affective
• collective
• connective
• convective
• defective
• detective
• directive
• effective
• elective
• infective
• injective

Kids Definition

corrective

adjective

cor·​rec·​tive kə-ˈrek-tiv 

: serving to correct : having the power of making right, normal, or regular

corrective lenses

corrective action

corrective noun

Medical Definition

corrective

1 of 2 adjective

cor·​rec·​tive kə-ˈrek-tiv 

: intended to correct

corrective lenses

corrective surgery

correctively adverb

corrective

2 of 2 noun

: a medication that removes undesirable or unpleasant side effects of other medication

phenobarbital acts as a corrective in overcoming the insomnia produced by ephedrine