correct

verb

cor·rect | \ kə-ˈrekt

corrected; correcting; corrects

Definition of correct

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to make or set right : amend correct an error The editor corrected the author's manuscript.

b : counteract, neutralize correct a harmful tendency

c : to alter or adjust so as to bring to some standard or required condition correct a lens for spherical aberration She's having surgery to correct her vision.

2a : to discipline or punish (someone) for some fault or lapse … I was most rude then. Only a small boy, Sir, and I was corrected for it, I assure you, by my father …— Rex Ingamells

b : to point out usually for amendment the errors or faults of spent the day correcting tests

correct

adjective

Definition of correct (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : conforming to an approved or conventional standard correct behavior

2 : conforming to or agreeing with fact, logic, or known truth a correct response

3 : conforming to a set figure enclosed the correct return postage

4 : conforming to the strict requirements of a specific ideology or set of beliefs or values environmentally correct spiritually correct

Other Words from correct Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about correct

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Other Words from correct

Verb

correctable \ kə-ˈrek-tə-bəl

\ adjective

corrector \ kə-ˈrek-tər

\ noun

Adjective

correctly \ kə-ˈrek(t)-lē

\ adverb

correctness \ kə-ˈrek(t)-nəs

\ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for correct

Verb

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

synonyms see in addition punish

Adjective

correct, accurate, exact, precise, nice, right mean conforming to fact, standard, or truth. correct usually implies freedom from fault or error. correct answers socially correct dress accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care. an accurate description exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth. exact measurements precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation. precise calibration nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination. makes nice distinctions right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault. the right thing to do

Adjective

correct, exact, and accurate mean agreeing with a fact, truth, or standard. correct is used for something that contains no errors. Can you give me correct directions? exact is used for something that agrees very closely with fact or truth. I need the exact measurements of the room. accurate is used when great care has been taken to make sure that something agrees with the facts. He gave an accurate description of the scene.

Examples of correct in a Sentence

Verb

I hate it when she corrects my grammar. Please correct your essay for punctuation errors. Our teacher hasn't finished correcting our tests yet. He corrects papers with a red pen. We are finding ways to correct this difficult situation. We'll correct the problem with the circuit as soon as possible. These medicines are used for correcting chemical imbalances in the brain.

Adjective

What's the correct answer to this question? Her watch never tells the correct time. an anatomically correct drawing of the human body Did I give you the correct change? With the correct amount of water and sunlight, the plant will grow well.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Reynolds, meanwhile, has asked the judge to release him on bond, largely claiming that he has been diagnosed with kidney cancer and needs follow-up surgery to correct a previously unsuccessful operation. — Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, "Feds: No proof behind Macomb official's cancer story; keep him jailed," 12 July 2018 With all that Willie the poodle mix has been through during his time as a stray and a shelter resident, Shawn Buckley doesn’t think a $3,000 price tag for surgery to correct a crippling leg injury should stand between Willie and a safe new home. — Hillary Davis, latimes.com, "Coming to the rescue: Newport resident’s dog food company starts nonprofit to get homeless dogs veterinary care," 7 July 2018 This story has been edited to correct the amount of the Hallfords' tax increase. — Gordon Dickson And Nicholas Sakelaris, star-telegram, "Priced out of their home? North Texans see tax bill rise $1,200 in five years," 6 July 2018 The show wrapped with a look at the future of the program, which so far seems to have corrected its course under the guidance of no-nonsense coach Dan Hurley. — Chris Brodeur, courant.com, "UConn Insider Podcast: How The Fracture Of Kevin Ollie And His Alma Mater Became A Full-Fledged Feud," 3 July 2018 This story has also been updated to correct the spelling of Jonathon Taylor's name. — Matt Tunseth, Anchorage Daily News, "Brown bear believed to have killed hiker and mauled searcher stays out of sight," 22 June 2018 Scientific attempts to correct for the changing location of the North Magnetic Pole have been put on halt due to the U.S. government's partial furlough. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "The Government Shutdown Is Messing with North," 15 Jan. 2019 Filler Nose Job Service: Temporary hyaluronic filler to correct nasal imbalances. — Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "17 Over-the-Top Beauty Treatments to Try Before Your Wedding Day," 13 Dec. 2018 Social scientists have long been trying to correct this particular record to little avail since divorce rates—which peaked in the 1970s and ‘80s—have been steadily on the decline for decades. — Elizabeth Kiefer, Glamour, "My Millennial Divorce: A Week of Stories That Explore Uncoupling in a Modern World," 26 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The National Archives captions were not entirely correct. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "That Time the U.S. Navy Sank a Fake, Yellow, North Korean Submarine," 6 Feb. 2019 This is absolutely correct: Like alcohol, tobacco and hundreds of prescription medications, marijuana has mood-altering effects that many people find pleasurable. — WSJ, "Marijuana Health Benefits Need More Study," 29 Jan. 2019 Everything in her domain had to be absolutely correct. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," 16 Dec. 2018 Henson is correct that there is a serious stigma surrounding mental health care in the black community. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Taraji P. Henson Talks Mental Health 'Taboo' In Black Community," 24 Sep. 2018 Regardless of how one may feel about his tactics, Jordan is correct on this point. — Michael Harriot, The Root, "Pastor Fights Megachurch Gentrification With Sign Telling Black Folks to ‘Stay Out of White Churches’," 16 May 2018 But even assuming that Mr. Pinker is correct about the past 10,000 years of human history, his idea leaves open some very interesting questions. — John Hawks, WSJ, "‘The Goodness Paradox’ Review: The Benefits of Good Breeding," 25 Jan. 2019 On a practical branding level, the museum’s curatorial team helps store buyers make sure colors are correct in reproductions and checks out copyrights, which can sometimes be impossible or overly expensive to secure. — Micaela Marini Higgs, Vox, "The complicated relationship between art and commerce has a home in the museum gift shop.," 7 Nov. 2018 And if John Solomon and Sara Carter are correct in their reporting, and the information is going to show some type of potential surveillance inside the Trump campaign, this would be an eye-opener. — Fox News, "Graham: Democrats are trying to destroy Kavanaugh's life," 17 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'correct.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for correct

Verb

Middle English, from Latin correctus, past participle of corrigere, from com- + regere to lead straight — more at right

Adjective

Middle English, corrected, from Latin correctus, from past participle of corrigere — see correct entry 1

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Dictionary Entries near correct

corrected establishment

corrected grain

Statistics for correct

Last Updated

14 Feb 2019

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Time Traveler for correct

The first known use of correct was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for correct

correct

verb

English Language Learners Definition of correct

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to change (something) so that it is right, true, proper, etc. : to make (something) correct

: to mark the errors on (something that a person has written)

: to deal with or take care of (a problem, bad situation, etc.) successfully

correct

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of correct (Entry 2 of 2)

: true or accurate : agreeing with facts

: having no errors or mistakes

: proper or appropriate in a particular situation

See the full definition for correct in the English Language Learners Dictionary

correct

verb

cor·rect | \ kə-ˈrekt

corrected; correcting

Kids Definition of correct

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to make or set right Please correct any misspelled words.

2 : to change or adjust so as to bring to some standard or to a required condition My watch was slow, so I corrected it. Glasses will correct your vision.

3 : to punish in order to improve … Buldeo went out angrily … anxious to correct Mowgli for not taking better care of the herd.— Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book

4 : to show how a thing can be improved or made right She corrected the students' papers.