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

Isaac’s correct: Training camp will be a more difficult test. — Josh Robbins, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Mo Bamba enjoys new reality: He's an NBA player now," 3 July 2018 To protect your genetic code from the structural harm that can lead to skin cancer is one thing—to actively correct that harm is another challenge entirely. — Robbie Gonzalez, WIRED, "DNA-Repairing Sunscreen: Legit or Not?," 2 July 2018 Tassell said censure's purpose is to address the behavior with the council so it can be corrected. — Sam Rosenstiel, Cincinnati.com, "'If you think Trump's got it bad...' Deer Park Councilman reprimanded for personal attacks: says move meant to humiliate," 28 June 2018 This story has been updated on June 12, 2018, to correct the number of bottles used in the bridge from 25,000 to 5,000 and to clarify that Colin Hendee and the Dopper Foundation built the bridge in connection with Asher Jay. — National Geographic, "Artists Used 5,000 Bottles to Build Brooklyn Bridge Replica," 11 June 2018 If only this much energy was spent correcting the bias, discrimination, assaults, and deaths of unarmed men, women & children. — Joe Marusak, charlotteobserver, "Not all police are 'homegrown terrorists,' Charlotte City Council member says," 1 June 2018 The candidate responded, in order, by correcting his mistakes and putting him in a blender. — Jay Willis, GQ, "Republicans Are Terrified of What Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Started," 2 July 2018 The health department allows pool operators to correct problems after an inspection and pay a $100 fee for a follow-up visit to check for compliance. — Anna Douglas And Rachel Jones, charlotteobserver, "Before you jump in, do you know how clean your Charlotte-area pool is?," 5 June 2018 His solo career has often felt aimed at correcting that reductive perception. — David Peisner, Billboard, "Big Boi on Hip-Hop's Evolution, Acting In 'Superfly' & Working With L.A. Reid," 3 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Log into your Amazon account to make sure your address is correct and credit cards are assigned to your account. — Don Reisinger, Fortune, "5 Tips for Getting the Best Deals on Amazon Prime Day 2018," 3 July 2018 There were conversations that I, as talent, was not privy to — the back-and-forth between Rachel and the brands, getting the copy correct and approved for social media. — Mariah Smith, The Cut, "My Sponsored Birthday Party Made Me Rethink My Dream of Being an Influencer," 10 May 2018 The risk of missing out—just in case the crypto evangelists are correct and blockchain technology turns out to be bigger than the internet revolution—is too great to ignore. — Erin Griffith, WIRED, "What's the Deal With Facebook and the Blockchain?," 8 May 2018 At the same time, those in power control what is considered to be correct and incorrect knowledge. — Harry T Dyer / The Conversation, Ars Technica, "I watched an entire Flat Earth Convention for my research—here’s what I learned," 6 May 2018 On Monday, Senior U.S. District Judge James Cohn, the sentencing judge, filed a nine-page ruling that prosecutors were correct and Rothstein was wrong. — Paula Mcmahon, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein won't get a break on his 50-year prison sentence, judge rules," 16 Apr. 2018 And this is during the Obama administration, correct? — Recode Staff, Recode, "Full transcript: Matt Cutts of the U.S. Digital Service on Recode Decode," 12 July 2018 During his discussions, Rubio said he was told that the Haitian government’s calculations of how much fuel prices would have to rise in order to bring the country’s prices in line with rising global oil prices were correct. — Jacqueline Charles, miamiherald, "Haiti’s low fuel prices unfairly benefit the rich and need to be raised, IMF says," 12 July 2018 United were seemingly unconvinced by Morata's potential to thrive in the Premier League, an assessment proven to be correct in hindsight after a poor debut season with Chelsea and moved quickly. — SI.com, "On This Day in 2017: Manchester United Signed Romelu Lukaku From Everton in £75m Deal," 10 July 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

Phrases Related to correct

all present and correct

anatomically correct

correct me if I'm wrong

if (one's) memory serves one (right/correctly)

if memory serves (me) (rightly/correctly)

Statistics for correct

Last Updated

10 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

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.