corrective

adjective

cor·​rec·​tive kə-ˈrek-tiv 

: intended to correct

corrective lenses

corrective punishment

corrective noun

correctively adverb

Synonyms

• amendatory
• rectifying
• remedial
• remedying
• reformative
• reformatory

Examples of corrective in a Sentence

She had corrective surgery on her knee this past summer.

People with bad eyesight usually need to wear corrective lenses, such as eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Recent Examples on the Web

Thompson, the spokesperson, said the corrections department's operations team is working closely with The Geo Group, a security company that operates prisons, to understand how Friday's fight occurred and what corrective actions need to be taken. —Jordan Gerard, USA TODAY, 12 May 2024

Jackson’s version was widely heralded as a corrective to Lindsay-Hogg’s movie — the mostly happy version the world would have seen if only the original had been edited differently. —Chris Willman, Variety, 8 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing corrective

• self-corrective

Kids Definition

corrective

adjective

cor·​rec·​tive kə-ˈrek-tiv 

: serving to correct : having the power of making right, normal, or regular

corrective lenses

corrective action

corrective noun

Medical Definition

corrective

1 of 2 adjective

cor·​rec·​tive kə-ˈrek-tiv 

: intended to correct

corrective lenses

corrective surgery

correctively adverb

corrective

2 of 2 noun

: a medication that removes undesirable or unpleasant side effects of other medication

phenobarbital acts as a corrective in overcoming the insomnia produced by ephedrine