redress

1 of 2

verb

re·​dress ri-ˈdres 

redressed; redressing; redresses

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to set right : remedy

looked to charity, not to legislation, to redress social wrongs

—W. R. Inge

(2)

: to make up for : compensate

b

: to remove the cause of (a grievance or complaint)

c

: to exact reparation for : avenge

2

archaic

a

: to requite (a person) for a wrong or loss

b

: heal

redresser noun

redress

2 of 2

noun

re·​dress ri-ˈdres 

ˈrē-ˌdres

1

a

: relief from distress

b

: means or possibility of seeking a remedy

without redress

2

: compensation for wrong or loss : reparation

3

a

: an act or instance of redressing

b

: retribution, correction

Synonyms

Verb

• avenge
• requite
• retaliate
• revenge
• venge [archaic]

Noun

• compensation
• damages
• indemnification
• indemnity
• quittance
• recompense
• recoupment
• remuneration
• reparation
• reprisal(s)
• requital
• restitution
• satisfaction

Choose the Right Synonym for redress

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

Examples of redress in a Sentence

Verb

It is time to redress the injustices of the past.

the belief that redressing a murder with another murder, even if carried out by the state, is not morally justified

Noun

the new skis were certainly an adequate redress for the lost snowboard

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Trump has said his tariff agenda is designed to redress years of lopsided trade between America and its partners, caused, in his view, by other countries imposing steeper tariffs on US goods imported into their markets than the US does on theirs. —Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025

Every societal ill was the result of an intentional harm, a single malicious or misinformed actor, and every harm could be redressed by the proper application of the law. —Sarah Lustbader, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025

Noun

The liability that this study speaks to is not the only option for seeking legal redress. —John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2025

Even under new leadership, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is required to enforce these provisions, empowering individuals to seek redress against discriminatory practices. —Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French redresser to set upright, restore, redress, from re- + dresser to set straight — more at dress

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing redress

• redress the balance

Rhymes for redress

• abbess
• abscess
• access
• address
• assess
• caress
• confess
• depress
• digress
• distress
• egress
• excess

Kids Definition

redress

1 of 2 verb

re·​dress ri-ˈdres 

: to set (as a wrong) right : remedy, relieve

redresser noun

redress

2 of 2 noun

re·​dress ri-ˈdres 

ˈrē-ˌdres

1

a

: relief from distress

b

: the way or possibility of seeking a remedy

2

: something that makes up for wrong or loss

3

: an act or instance of redressing

Legal Definition

redress

noun

re·​dress ri-ˈdres, ˈrē-ˌdres 

1

a

: relief from distress

b

: a means of obtaining a remedy

2

: compensation (as damages) for wrong or loss

redress

ri-ˈdres 

transitive verb