rectify
verb
Did you know?
Don’t worry if you struggle with the word rectify—we’re here to set you straight. When you rectify something, you correct an error or make things right, which is fitting because rectify and correct both ultimately trace back to the Latin word regere, which can mean “to lead straight,” “to direct,” or “to rule.” Rectify has had its “to set right” meaning since the early 16th century, but the word has over the years accrued various other meanings as well, including the specialized uses “to purify especially by repeated or fractional distillation” (as in “rectified alcohol”), “to make (an alternating current) unidirectional,” and several medical applications having to do with healing of one kind or another. Regere plays a part in the histories of a number of familiar English words, in addition to those mentioned above; the many relatives of rectify include direct, resurrection, and regimen.
Examples of rectify in a Sentence
Vamsi Gosu, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
House Resolution 194 acknowledged the fundamental injustice of slavery and Jim Crow laws and expressed commitment to rectifying their lingering consequences.
—Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025
The budget reconciliation package moving through the Senate is a critical step towards rectifying the current mess.
—Jackson Shedelbower, Oc Register, 17 June 2025
Along with extra style points, the new design rectifies one of the XM5's biggest detractions with a new hinge point along the arms that once again makes Sony's best wireless headphones foldable for travel.
—Ryan Waniata, Wired News, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for rectify
Cite this Entry
“Rectify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rectify. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rectify
verb
Medical Definition
rectify
transitive verb
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