correct

[ kuh-rekt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to set or make true, accurate, or right; remove the errors or faults from: The new glasses corrected his eyesight.

   The native guide corrected our pronunciation.

   The new glasses corrected his eyesight.

   Synonyms: remedy, reform, emend, amend, rectify

2. to point out or mark the errors in:

   The teacher corrected the examination papers.

3. to scold, rebuke, or punish in order to improve:

   Should parents correct their children in public?

   Synonyms: castigate, chasten, warn

4. to counteract the operation or effect of (something hurtful or undesirable):

   The medication will correct stomach acidity.

5. Mathematics, Physics. to alter or adjust so as to bring into accordance with a standard or with a required condition.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a correction or corrections.
2. (of stock prices) to reverse a trend, especially temporarily, as after a sharp advance or decline in previous trading sessions.

adjective

1. conforming to fact or truth; free from error; accurate:

   a correct answer.

   Synonyms: exact, perfect, faultless

2. in accordance with an acknowledged or accepted standard; proper:

   correct behavior.

3. (of a judgment or opinion) just or right:

   I feel this decision is correct because of the defendant’s age.

4. characterized by or adhering to a liberal or progressive ideology on matters of ethnicity, religion, sexuality, ecology, etc.:

   Is it environmentally correct to buy a real Christmas tree?

   Most of the judges in this district have correct political views.

correct

/ kəˈrɛkt /

verb

1. to make free from errors
2. to indicate the errors in
3. to rebuke or punish in order to set right or improve

   to stand corrected

   to correct a child

4. to counteract or rectify (a malfunction, ailment, etc)

   these glasses will correct your sight

5. to adjust or make conform, esp to a standard

adjective

1. free from error; true; accurate

   the correct version

2. in conformity with accepted standards

   correct behaviour

Derived Forms

• corˈrectly, adverb
• corˈrectable, adjective
• corˈrector, noun
• corˈrectness, noun

Other Words From

• cor·recta·ble cor·recti·ble adjective
• cor·recta·bili·ty cor·recti·bili·ty noun
• cor·rectly adverb
• cor·rectness noun
• cor·rector noun
• recor·rect verb (used with object)
• uncor·rected adjective
• well-cor·rected adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of correct¹

First recorded in 1300–50; (verb) Middle English correcten, from Anglo-French correcter, from Latin corrēctus (past participle of corrigere “to make straight, set right”) equivalent to cor- cor- + reg- (stem of regere “to keep straight, make straight, guide” ( direct ) + -tus past participle suffix; (adjective) from French correct, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of correct¹

C14: from Latin corrigere to make straight, put in order, from com- (intensive) + regere to rule

Idioms and Phrases

see stand corrected .

Synonym Study

See punish. Correct, accurate, precise imply conformity to fact, standard, or truth. A correct statement is one free from error, mistakes, or faults. An accurate statement is one that shows careful conformity to fact, truth, or spirit. A precise statement shows scrupulously strict and detailed conformity to fact.

Example Sentences

The correct frame for this election was not how entertaining or outrageous anyone is, or how well one side or another is doing.

From Salon

They corrected a lot of their defensive issues, sprinting back in transition and cleaning up Memphis misses off the glass.

From Los Angeles Times

Throughout the campaign, he pushed conspiracy theories about the election process, claiming at one point that turnout in nursing homes couldn't possibly be correct because many of its residents were near death.

From Salon

Through the increasingly common process known as “ballot curing,” campaigns are contacting voters whose ballots were not counted because of a technicality and giving them a chance to correct their mistakes.

From Los Angeles Times

If a vote-by-mail ballot is dropped off in another county’s drop box, election officials must send it to the correct county recorder’s office to be tallied.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accurate
• appropriate
• equitable
• exact
• factual
• legitimate
• perfect
• precise
• proper
• strict
• true