correction

noun

cor·​rec·​tion kə-ˈrek-shən 

1

: the action or an instance of correcting: such as

a

: amendment, rectification

b

: rebuke, punishment

c

: a bringing into conformity with a standard

d

: neutralization, counteraction

correction of acidity

2

: a decline in market price or business activity following and counteracting a rise

3

a

: something substituted in place of what is wrong

marking corrections on the students' papers

b

: a quantity applied by way of correcting (as for adjustment of an instrument)

4

: the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders through a program involving penal custody, parole, and probation

also : the administration of such treatment as a matter of public policy

—usually used in plural

correctional

kə-ˈrek-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of correction

• amendment

Examples of correction in a Sentence

The teacher marked corrections on his students' tests.

Please make corrections before handing in your compositions.

the correction of your mistakes

people in need of vision correction

Recent Examples on the Web

The Bayou State was ranked last for crime and corrections and scored low in the economy and natural environment categories. — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado july 29, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026

And, frequently, the Fed chair has used those addresses to signal major course corrections. — Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 29 July 2026

Since error correction codes are based on the geometry of the connections among qubits, this means committing to one or a small number of error correction codes when the chip is manufactured. — ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026

Put the two numbers side by side, and the investment looks less like an extra cost and more like a correction to one already being paid. — Benjamin Faes, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing correction

• correction fluid
• house of correction

Rhymes for correction

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• defection

Kids Definition

correction

noun

cor·​rec·​tion kə-ˈrek-shən 

1

: the action or an instance of correcting

2

: a change that makes something right

3

: punishment intended to correct faults of character or behavior

correctional

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

correction

noun

cor·​rec·​tion kə-ˈrek-shən 

: the action or an instance of correcting or neutralizing a harmful or undesirable condition

correction of acidity

correction of visual defects with glasses

Legal Definition

correction

noun

cor·​rec·​tion

1

: a decline in market price or business activity following and counteracting a rise

2

: the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders through a program involving penal custody, parole, and probation

—often used in pl.

correctional adjective