redress

1 of 2

verb

re·​dress ri-ˈdres How to pronounce redress (audio)
redressed; redressing; redresses

transitive verb

1
a(1)
: to set right : remedy
looked to charity, not to legislation, to redress social wrongsW. 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 How to pronounce redress (audio)
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
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
Chuck Searcy has spent decades of his life redressing a deadly legacy of America’s war in Vietnam: unexploded ordnance. Seth Mydans, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 From redressing old wrongs to taking new steps, the protagonists in our 10 picks for this month seek justice and autonomy. Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2024 Prudent alums, donors, and trustees should urge them to consider it as a reasonable step to redress rising controversy and cratering legitimacy. Paul O. Carrese, National Review, 13 Feb. 2024 Stopping hypothetical future appointments would not redress any alleged imminent harm. Mark Osborne, ABC News, 31 Jan. 2024 Spencer redressed the existing sets to reflect the manly elements Gosling’s Ken has brought back from the Real World, including mini-fridges and leather furniture. Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2024 The win over Miami redressed Phoenix after being smacked 131-122 by the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday, which led by nearly 20 points for most game. Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 7 Jan. 2024 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. Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Dec. 2023 The referendum was framed as a first step toward redressing major historical wrongs. Natasha Frost, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2024
Noun
The lawsuit pushed the U.S. government toward adopting the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 that provided redress. Jonathan Van Harmelen, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024 If no crime has been committed, there can be no reason for demanding redress for what these children undergo in their schools of sequestration. Dana Goldstein, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 This history of systemic injustice has fueled a legacy of environmental disparities that demands redress through meaningful action. Monica Sanders, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 But so far, there’s no clear legal redress in many parts of the US. Adi Robertson, The Verge, 31 Jan. 2024 Hennessy held hearings last year on the messy math of how much financial redress is owed, how it should be split between the federal and provincial governments and how the annuity should be recalculated going forward. Amanda Coletta, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024 Evanston’s reparations committee, which received nationwide attention, approved $25,000 grants for mortgage and down payment assistance to 16 residents, which members have cited as a potential form of redress. Detroit Free Press, 11 Feb. 2024 The couples who sought redress in the courts have not been deprived of a pet or a motorcycle, but of a child. The Editors, National Review, 23 Feb. 2024 Invoking the history of Manchester as an engine of the Industrial Revolution and claims that British governments have favored investments in London and the country’s south, Mr. Ratcliffe appeared to be making his pitch for a type of redress for historical wrongs. Tariq Panja, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024

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

Dictionary Entries Near redress

Cite this Entry

“Redress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/redress. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

redress

1 of 2 verb
re·​dress ri-ˈdres How to pronounce redress (audio)
: to set (as a wrong) right : remedy, relieve
redresser noun

redress

2 of 2 noun
re·​dress ri-ˈdres How to pronounce redress (audio)
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
1
a
: relief from distress
b
: a means of obtaining a remedy
2
: compensation (as damages) for wrong or loss
redress transitive verb

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