corrected; correcting; corrects
1
a
: 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.
2
a
: 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
Rex Ingamells
b
: to point out usually for amendment the errors or faults of
spent the day correcting tests
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
Synonyms
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.
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Recent Examples on the WebNew York Times, 25 Nov. 2023
No specifics were given by hospital officials on how the exposure may have occurred or how it was corrected.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023
Editor’s Note: The headline has been corrected to reflect the nature of the complaints; the article has been updated with comments from McDonald’s.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 15 Nov. 2023
And then look at it on the computer and correct it, and finally turn it into written work.
—Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2023
Warner Brothers has yet to correct this egregious oversight, but now the man himself has—well, sort of.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 13 Nov. 2023
This story was updated to correct Sarah Banks' job title and the time allotted to Medicare wellness visits.
—WIRED, 13 Nov. 2023
Surgery may be necessary to correct these abnormalities.
—Kristin Koch, Health, 10 Nov. 2023
But to do so, officials needed to correct a major vulnerability: The massive structure has been known to be non-ductile concrete, a class of structures vulnerable to collapse in a major earthquake.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
Allison Johnson, The Verge, 22 Nov. 2023
Made with hydrating and calming ingredients like turmeric, evening primrose oil, jojoba oil and advanced vitamin C, this formula works to brighten skin, correct dark spots and enhance complexion.
—Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023
The president's absolutely correct to ask for this funding, not only for Taiwan, but for Ukraine, as well as Israel, and other priorities.
—CBS News, 19 Nov. 2023
If applied correctly, these learnings can optimize every Thanksgiving to follow, meaning that—if my calculations are correct— Thanksgiving 2051 will be perfect.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 18 Nov. 2023
The gene-editing tool an RNA molecule that guides the enzyme to the correct region of DNA and a Cas9 enzyme that cuts DNA.
—Nature Magazine, Scientific American, 16 Nov. 2023
Interestingly, while humans struggled to differentiate between real and AI-generated faces, the researchers developed a machine-learning system capable of detecting the correct answer 94 percent of the time.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 14 Nov. 2023
And if their findings prove correct, 2024 will be all about fulfilling our biggest travel aspirations.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2023
The task of reviewing the list and deciding which, if any, candidate might be a correct match falls not to an algorithm but to a person—a law-enforcement representative whose qualifications in this area might be limited.
—Eyal Press, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
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Verb
Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions.
—New York Times, 25 Nov. 2023
No specifics were given by hospital officials on how the exposure may have occurred or how it was corrected.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023
Editor’s Note: The headline has been corrected to reflect the nature of the complaints; the article has been updated with comments from McDonald’s.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 15 Nov. 2023
And then look at it on the computer and correct it, and finally turn it into written work.
—Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2023
Warner Brothers has yet to correct this egregious oversight, but now the man himself has—well, sort of.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 13 Nov. 2023
This story was updated to correct Sarah Banks' job title and the time allotted to Medicare wellness visits.
—WIRED, 13 Nov. 2023
Surgery may be necessary to correct these abnormalities.
—Kristin Koch, Health, 10 Nov. 2023
But to do so, officials needed to correct a major vulnerability: The massive structure has been known to be non-ductile concrete, a class of structures vulnerable to collapse in a major earthquake.
—Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2023
Adjective
Bard got all of the critical bits right in summing up the video: the ingredients and measurements are all accurate, and the instructions are correct.
—Allison Johnson, The Verge, 22 Nov. 2023
Made with hydrating and calming ingredients like turmeric, evening primrose oil, jojoba oil and advanced vitamin C, this formula works to brighten skin, correct dark spots and enhance complexion.
—Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2023
The president's absolutely correct to ask for this funding, not only for Taiwan, but for Ukraine, as well as Israel, and other priorities.
—CBS News, 19 Nov. 2023
If applied correctly, these learnings can optimize every Thanksgiving to follow, meaning that—if my calculations are correct— Thanksgiving 2051 will be perfect.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 18 Nov. 2023
The gene-editing tool an RNA molecule that guides the enzyme to the correct region of DNA and a Cas9 enzyme that cuts DNA.
—Nature Magazine, Scientific American, 16 Nov. 2023
Interestingly, while humans struggled to differentiate between real and AI-generated faces, the researchers developed a machine-learning system capable of detecting the correct answer 94 percent of the time.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 14 Nov. 2023
And if their findings prove correct, 2024 will be all about fulfilling our biggest travel aspirations.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2023
The task of reviewing the list and deciding which, if any, candidate might be a correct match falls not to an algorithm but to a person—a law-enforcement representative whose qualifications in this area might be limited.
—Eyal Press, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'correct.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
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
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of correct was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing correct
Dictionary Entries Near correct
Cite this Entry
“Correct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/correct. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
correct
1 of 2 verb
cor·rect
kə-ˈrekt 
1
a
: to make or set right
b
c
: to alter or adjust so as to bring to some standard or required condition
2
a
b
: to indicate the faults or errors of and show how they can be made right
correct a student's composition
correct
2 of 2 adjective1
: meeting or agreeing with a particular standard
correct behavior
2
: agreeing with fact or known truth
the correct pronunciation
Medical Definition
correct
transitive verb
cor·rect
kə-ˈrekt
: to alter or adjust so as to bring to some standard or required condition
correct a lens for spherical aberration
More from Merriam-Webster on correct
Nglish: Translation of correct for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of correct for Arabic Speakers
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