redressed; redressing; redresses
1
a(1)
: to set right : remedy
looked to charity, not to legislation, to redress social wrongs—
W. R. Inge
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
redresser
noun
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
Synonyms
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 WebHannah Fish, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2023
The organization’s decision is a response to pressure from birders to redress the recognition of historical figures with racist or colonial pasts.
—Katrina Miller, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2023
In another section of his book, Cooper writes that democracies
are less liable to popular tumults than any other polities, because the people, having legal means in their power to redress wrongs, have little inducement to employ any other.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 9 Oct. 2023
But part of it is using your Article II powers to redress wrongs, including potentially pardons.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 18 June 2023
Firms that depend on long agricultural supply chains, such as global food companies, would be expected to be among those most interested in using credits to redress their impact on biodiversity, Balmforth said.
—Joshua Kirby, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2023
In California this issue is part of a groundbreaking effort to redress harms from slavery and discrimination.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2023
Kenyan President William Ruto has been outspoken about both the West and China’s obligations to help Africa cope with a climate crisis not of its own making, as well as to redress an inequitable global lending structures that have saddled African economies with huge public debts.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023
When nurses redressed Joyce’s bandages, her children saw her tendons and bones.
—AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2023
Brandi Kellam, ProPublica, 10 Nov. 2023
Citigroup will pay $25.9 million in fines and redress to consumers after illegally discriminating against credit card applicants that the bank identified as Armenian American, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
—Will Feuer, WSJ, 8 Nov. 2023
If people have the right to decide how and whether their brains are accessed and changed, and more importantly, have legal redress if their brain data is misused (say, to discriminate against them in an employment setting, health care, or education), that will go a long way toward building trust.
—Time, 26 June 2023
To no surprise, neither redress could match the egregious majesty of the originals (Reminder: Orchids can’t be 3D-printed).
—Jonathan Rowe, Spin, 22 Aug. 2023
Unable to comprehend religion or its diversity, Buruma offers myopia and misinformation in its place—exactly the hubris cancel culture emerged to redress.
—Will Stephenson, Harper's Magazine, 16 Aug. 2023
Without that proper agreement, your partner might make an array of claims to seek financial redress if the relationship ends.
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2023
Granting financial redress through varying amounts of cash payments and creating an agency to handle compensation claims.
—Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 29 June 2023
Japanese Americans eventually won redress, with the US government granting an apology and $20,000 to those citizens who were incarcerated during World War II.
—Stephanie Elam, CNN, 18 June 2023
See More
Verb
Her book grew from a desire to understand, and possibly redress, the role her family played – directly and indirectly – in the denial of land rights to Native Americans.
—Hannah Fish, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2023
The organization’s decision is a response to pressure from birders to redress the recognition of historical figures with racist or colonial pasts.
—Katrina Miller, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2023
In another section of his book, Cooper writes that democracies
are less liable to popular tumults than any other polities, because the people, having legal means in their power to redress wrongs, have little inducement to employ any other.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 9 Oct. 2023
But part of it is using your Article II powers to redress wrongs, including potentially pardons.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 18 June 2023
Firms that depend on long agricultural supply chains, such as global food companies, would be expected to be among those most interested in using credits to redress their impact on biodiversity, Balmforth said.
—Joshua Kirby, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2023
In California this issue is part of a groundbreaking effort to redress harms from slavery and discrimination.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2023
Kenyan President William Ruto has been outspoken about both the West and China’s obligations to help Africa cope with a climate crisis not of its own making, as well as to redress an inequitable global lending structures that have saddled African economies with huge public debts.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2023
When nurses redressed Joyce’s bandages, her children saw her tendons and bones.
—AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2023
Noun
In 2021, commissioners in Athens-Clarke County, where the school is located, passed a resolution supporting redress for Linnentown families through economic development projects in underserved communities.
—Brandi Kellam, ProPublica, 10 Nov. 2023
Citigroup will pay $25.9 million in fines and redress to consumers after illegally discriminating against credit card applicants that the bank identified as Armenian American, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
—Will Feuer, WSJ, 8 Nov. 2023
If people have the right to decide how and whether their brains are accessed and changed, and more importantly, have legal redress if their brain data is misused (say, to discriminate against them in an employment setting, health care, or education), that will go a long way toward building trust.
—Time, 26 June 2023
To no surprise, neither redress could match the egregious majesty of the originals (Reminder: Orchids can’t be 3D-printed).
—Jonathan Rowe, Spin, 22 Aug. 2023
Unable to comprehend religion or its diversity, Buruma offers myopia and misinformation in its place—exactly the hubris cancel culture emerged to redress.
—Will Stephenson, Harper's Magazine, 16 Aug. 2023
Without that proper agreement, your partner might make an array of claims to seek financial redress if the relationship ends.
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2023
Granting financial redress through varying amounts of cash payments and creating an agency to handle compensation claims.
—Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 29 June 2023
Japanese Americans eventually won redress, with the US government granting an apology and $20,000 to those citizens who were incarcerated during World War II.
—Stephanie Elam, CNN, 18 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'redress.' 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 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
Time Traveler
The first known use of redress was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing redress
Dictionary Entries Near redress
Cite this Entry
“Redress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/redress. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
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
More from Merriam-Webster on redress
Nglish: Translation of redress for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of redress for Arabic Speakers
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