corrective
🇺🇸 /kɜrˈɛktɪv/
📖 Definitions
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adjective
Designed or intended to correct or counteract something undesirable, harmful, or wrong.; Relating to or involving the correction of a physical defect or disability, especially through surgery, lenses, or other devices.; Serving to discipline or punish in order to reform behavior.
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noun
Something that serves to correct, counteract, or neutralize an undesirable condition or effect.; A medicine or remedy that counteracts or neutralizes the effects of another substance or condition.; A device or appliance used to correct a physical defect, such as braces, orthopedic shoes, or eyeglasses.
🔗 Details
Word forms
countable
Plural: correctives
Comparative: more corrective
Superlative: most corrective
Collocations
corrective actioncorrective measurescorrective surgerycorrective lenscorrective feedbackcorrective justice
Derivatives
correctcorrectioncorrectlycorrectnesscorrectorincorrectincorrectlycorrectablecorrectivelycorrectional
Synonyms
remedialrectifyingrestorativeamendingredressive
Antonyms
aggravatingworsening
Commonly confused
correct
EN: 'Correct' means accurate or right; 'corrective' specifically means intended to fix or remedy something wrong.
correctional
EN: 'Correctional' relates to the penal/prison system (e.g., correctional facility); 'corrective' relates to fixing or remedying a problem.
Spelling tips
EN: Do not confuse 'corrective' (remedial) with 'correctional' (relating to prisons). Both derive from 'correct' but have distinct meanings.
💬 Examples
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The government introduced corrective measures to address the economic imbalance.
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She wears corrective lenses to improve her vision.
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The school adopted a corrective approach to student misconduct rather than purely punitive measures.
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Regular exercise is a corrective for the sedentary lifestyle of modern office workers.
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The doctor prescribed a corrective to counteract the side effects of the primary medication.
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The orthodontist fitted her with a corrective to straighten her teeth.