correct

1 of 2

verb

cor·​rect kə-ˈrekt 

corrected; correcting; corrects

transitive verb

1

a

: 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.

2

a

: 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

correctable

kə-ˈrek-tə-bəl 

adjective

corrector

kə-ˈrek-tər 

noun

correct

2 of 2

adjective

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

correctly

kə-ˈrek(t)-lē 

adverb

correctness

kə-ˈrek(t)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

Verb

• amend
• debug
• emend
• rectify
• red-pencil
• reform
• remedy

Adjective

• accurate
• bang on [chiefly British]
• dead-on
• exact
• good
• on-target
• precise
• proper
• right
• so
• spot-on
• true
• veracious

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

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

Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions. —New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024

This technology offers drone operators a brief window of several seconds to correct the drone’s path upon detecting interference, for example as a result of jamming, before signal loss. —IEEE Spectrum, 10 Apr. 2024

According to the data, the car corrected itself seven times. —Trisha Thadani, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

This story has been corrected to reflect that the name of the Texas secretary of state is Jane Nelson, not Janet Nelson. —Ali Swenson and Melissa Goldin, Quartz, 6 Apr. 2024

This could include implementing accessibility measures for people with disabilities, correcting discriminatory hiring practices, addressing gender and racial pay inequities, anti-bias training and more. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024

Amid mounting scrutiny, officials course corrected. —Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024

Jo changed their name twice in middle school, and the district was slow to correct their name in its databases. —Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024

The victims are ages 12 to 16, police said, correcting an earlier statement that one is 17. —Doha Madani, NBC News, 1 Apr. 2024

Adjective

Getting the correct size and concentration of the particles, for example, is key. —Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024

Vos in his challenge alleged thousands were from people who didn't live in the correct district. —Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024

Given the correct materials, a TENG can then harvest that moving charge as electricity. —IEEE Spectrum, 9 Apr. 2024

Einstein and others knew that if the theory was correct, and the fabric of reality is bending around large objects, then light itself would have to follow that bend. —Rebecca Boyle, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024

Factors such as their weight, overall health, and the severity of their allergies will be taken into consideration when determining the correct dosage. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

Four other Maryland players won $50,000 apiece with four correct numbers and the Powerball. —Don Sweeney, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024

If the team is correct, the revelation could have broad implications for scientists’ understanding of Martian geology. —Jackie Wattles, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024

So does hitting the trampoline at the correct moment while a basketball is hovering in the air, waiting to be snatched up and thrown down in an acrobatic dunk. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Verb

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

Adjective

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing correct

• all present and correct
• anatomically correct
• correct me if I'm wrong
• politically correct

Kids Definition

correct

1 of 2 verb

cor·​rect kə-ˈrekt 

1

a

: to make or set right

b

: counteract, neutralize

c

: to alter or adjust so as to bring to some standard or required condition

2

a

: rebuke entry 1, punish

b

: to indicate the faults or errors of and show how they can be made right

correct a student's composition

correctable

-ˈrek-tə-bəl 

adjective

corrector

-ˈrek-tər 

noun

correct

2 of 2 adjective

1

: meeting or agreeing with a particular standard

correct behavior

2

: agreeing with fact or known truth

the correct pronunciation

correctly

-ˈrek-(t)lē 

adverb

correctness

-ˈrek(t)-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

correct

transitive verb

cor·​rect kə-ˈrekt 

: to alter or adjust so as to bring to some standard or required condition

correct a lens for spherical aberration

correctable

-ˈrek-tə-bəl 

adjective