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

To correct for this, the group made a white globe three feet in diameter, then projected a high-quality telescopic image onto it from down the hallway. — Timothy Swindle, The Conversation, "Mapping the Moon for Apollo," 15 July 2019 Multiple traffic detours clogged downtown Baltimore and the Inner Harbor Tuesday as city crews continued work to correct a water main break. — Lillian Reed, baltimoresun.com, "Water main break repairs continue Tuesday, detouring traffic in downtown Baltimore," 9 July 2019 At four months old, Ruuxa had surgery to correct a growth abnormality in his leg. — Alexis Gravely, WSJ, "What’s Cuter Than a Baby Cheetah? A Baby Cheetah With Its Puppy Pal," 28 June 2019 And unlike legislation, which can be amended at the next session to correct flaws, most ballot measures approved by the people are inscribed in stone, at least until the next round of initiatives. — Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "California’s high court walks high wire on initiatives, 2 ex-justices say," 23 June 2019 This play might have had some juice to it if Hinton wasn't capable of adjusting off his original assignment to correct the situation in real time. — Nicholas Baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football: Freshman Chris Hinton a natural defensive tackle," 19 June 2019 But the impact of such disasters on contractors’ bottom lines tends to be minimal, or even positive, since they may be paid to correct the problem. — Andrew Cockburn, Harper's magazine, "The Military-Industrial Virus," 10 June 2019 Here's what's going on, according to CNN: A group of wealthy parents allegedly paid a college prep organization to take the SAT/ACT entrance exams on behalf of their children or to correct their answers. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "The Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman College Cheating Scandal Is Too Fascinating," 12 Mar. 2019 So, to be able to go out there and correct the record, to be able to go out there and really make sure your message is being amplified. — Recode Staff, Recode, "How bots amplify hoaxes and propaganda on social media," 2 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

And, if Madden is correct, the Browns will be lucky to make the playoffs this season. — Troy L. Smith, cleveland.com, "Madden 20 ratings not very high on Browns and Baker Mayfield," 16 July 2019 Later, a legal memo by Metro’s general counsel was made public showing that Crawford’s summary was correct. — Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post, "New subpoenas issued in federal probe of D.C. Council member Jack Evans," 11 July 2019 And yes, your suspicions are correct: Cow Appreciation Day is, in fact, the invention of Chick-fil-A. — Aj Willingham, CNN, "It's Cow Appreciation Day, which means people will be dressing up for some Chick-fil-A," 9 July 2019 Assuming these specs are correct, that means that the S10 Plus is smaller across all three dimensions, despite having a larger screen. — Dieter Bohn, The Verge, "These rumored Pixel 4 XL renders show just how big its bezels will be," 8 July 2019 The idea that unemployment, at a certain level, will drive wages—and therefore inflation higher—has many assumptions that don’t seem to be correct. — Daniel Kruger, WSJ, "Once a Lonely Bond Bull, HSBC’s Steven Major Takes Stock of This Year’s Rally," 28 June 2019 Events could appear simultaneous to one observer but not another, and both perspectives would be correct. — Quanta Magazine, "The Simple Idea Behind Einstein’s Greatest Discoveries," 26 June 2019 Assuming IHS Markit’s report is correct, the new element would be the inclusion of an Android emulator. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Microsoft's rumored dual-display Surface could emulate Android apps, which isn't a bad idea," 24 June 2019 Steenburgen is correct as Book Club made $13.6 million on its opening weekend in May 2018 and has grossed $68.6 million to date. — Rosy Cordero, EW.com, "Grab your glasses! Mary Steenburgen announces a Book Club sequel is in the works," 12 June 2019

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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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.