remedy

1 of 2

noun

rem·​e·​dy ˈre-mə-dē 

plural remedies

1

: a medicine, application, or treatment that relieves or cures a disease

2

: something that corrects or counteracts

3

: the legal means to recover a right or to prevent or obtain redress for a wrong

remediless adjective

remedy

2 of 2

verb

remedied; remedying

transitive verb

: to provide or serve as a remedy for : relieve

remedy a social evil

Synonyms

Noun

• cure
• drug
• medication
• medicine
• medicinal

Verb

• cure
• heal
• alleviate
• relieve

Choose the Right Synonym for remedy

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 remedy in a Sentence

Noun

Building more roads isn't always the best remedy for traffic congestion.

The problem was beyond remedy.

She was left without remedy since the court did not recognize her claim.

Verb

Something must be done to remedy the problem.

The conflict can be remedied by scheduling the meeting for next week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Former President Joe Biden's DOJ, riding a wave of anti-corporatism on the left, proposed a far-reaching set of remedies that strayed well beyond the original case. —Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025

If Google’s Ai Mode Succeeds? One possible remedy for content providers — which The Atlantic highlights — is to maintain direct access to their content consumers. —Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Verb

And while existing reports do address some of the underlying issues facing Black residents, Robinson stressed the importance of aggregating data specific to Richmond’s Black residents so the city can take a holistic approach to remedying problems and uplifting those struggling most. —Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 21 June 2025

To remedy the lack of fresh food, some municipalities have pledged part of their state grocery tax revenues to attract grocery stores, and are contractually obligated to come up with the money regardless if the state provides it. —Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English remedie, from Anglo-French, from Latin remedium, from re- + mederi to heal — more at medical

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing remedy

• cold remedy
• folk remedy
• herbal remedy
• home remedy
• legal remedy

Kids Definition

remedy

1 of 2 noun

rem·​e·​dy ˈrem-əd-ē 

plural remedies

1

: a medicine or treatment that cures or relieves

2

: something that corrects an evil, rights a wrong, or makes up for a loss

remedy

2 of 2 verb

remedied; remedying

: to provide or serve as a remedy for : relieve

Medical Definition

remedy

noun

rem·​e·​dy ˈrem-əd-ē 

plural remedies

: a medicine, application, or treatment that relieves or cures a disease

remedy transitive verb

remedied; remedying

Legal Definition

remedy

1 of 2 noun

rem·​e·​dy

plural remedies

: the means to enforce a right or to prevent or obtain redress for a wrong : the relief (as damages, restitution, specific performance, or an injunction) that may be given or ordered by a court or other tribunal for a wrong

if the contract is null and void, the remedy is to rescind and to put the parties in the position in which they were prior to the attempted agreement

—First Nat'l Mortgage Corp. v. The Manhattan Life Ins. Co., 360 So. 2d 264 (1978)

specific performance and other equitable remedies

remediless adjective

remedy

2 of 2 transitive verb

remedied; remedying

: to provide or serve as a remedy for