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 return needs a correction to the child tax credit or recovery rebate credit amount. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026

The governor’s office sent at least four requests for corrections to the Post, one person familiar with the situation told Semafor. —Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Feb. 2026

After a remarkable price surge in January that saw the metal grow to unprecedented heights, market corrections in early February are causing silver prices to drop again. —Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026

Because of the rush of federal inmates, Banks said corrections officers are overworked and overtime costs are way up in order to provide adequate security for inmates. —Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 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