adjustment

[ uh-juhst-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act of adjusting; adaptation to a particular condition, position, or purpose.
2. the state of being adjusted; adjusted; orderly relation of parts or elements.
3. a device, as a knob or lever, for adjusting:

   the adjustments on a television set.

4. the act of bringing something into conformity with external requirements:

   the adjustment of one's view of reality.

5. harmony achieved by modification or change of a position:

   They worked out an adjustment of their conflicting ideas.

6. Sociology. a process of modifying, adapting, or altering individual or collective patterns of behavior so as to bring them into conformity with other such patterns, as with those provided by a cultural environment.
7. Insurance. the act of ascertaining the amount of indemnity that the party insured is entitled to receive under the policy, and of settling the claim.
8. a settlement of a disputed account or claim.
9. a change or concession, as in price or other terms, in view of minor defect or the like.

adjustment

/ əˈdʒʌstmənt /

noun

1. the act of adjusting or state of being adjusted
2. a control for regulating

   the adjustment for volume is beside the speaker

Other Words From

• ad·just·ment·al [uh, -juhst-, men, -tl], adjective
• misad·justment noun
• nonad·justment noun
• over·ad·justment noun
• pread·justment noun
• under·ad·justment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of adjustment¹

First recorded in 1635–45; adjust + -ment

Example Sentences

Because Pec has never lived outside Rio de Janeiro, his English remains a work in progress and the adjustment to Southern California took time.

From Los Angeles Times

Such tariffs would in turn force Social Security recipients to make cost-of-living adjustments.

From Salon

There are the adjustments to farm subsidies being made after Brexit.

From BBC

The TV series is made in the image of the Villeneuve film, with downward adjustments for budget and such.

From Los Angeles Times

Or will Serrano make the adjustments required to become champion in an eighth division?

From BBC

Related Words

• alteration
• arrangement
• improvement
• modification
• readjustment
• regulation