corrective

adjective

cor·​rec·​tive kə-ˈrek-tiv How to pronounce corrective (audio)
: intended to correct
corrective lenses
corrective punishment
corrective noun
correctively adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for corrective

Word History

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of corrective was in 1531

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Cite this Entry

“Corrective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corrective. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

corrective

adjective
cor·​rec·​tive kə-ˈrek-tiv How to pronounce corrective (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce corrective (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on corrective

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