rectify
verb
Did you know?
Don’t worry if you struggle with the word rectify—we’re here to set you straight. When you rectify something, you correct an error or make things right, which is fitting because rectify and correct both ultimately trace back to the Latin word regere, which can mean “to lead straight,” “to direct,” or “to rule.” Rectify has had its “to set right” meaning since the early 16th century, but the word has over the years accrued various other meanings as well, including the specialized uses “to purify especially by repeated or fractional distillation” (as in “rectified alcohol”), “to make (an alternating current) unidirectional,” and several medical applications having to do with healing of one kind or another. Regere plays a part in the histories of a number of familiar English words, in addition to those mentioned above; the many relatives of rectify include direct, resurrection, and regimen.
Synonyms
Examples of rectify in a Sentence
Zac Jackson, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
With this nuance, Catlett’s work both precedes and complements the work of these feminist theorists, rectifying a history of negative imagery against Black women.
—Shameekia Shantel Johnson, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Leaving smelly shoes out in the open may be one of the root causes for an unwanted scent in your home, but thankfully, there's way to rectify the situation.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2024
The account adjustment is a one-time initiative designed to provide borrowers with retroactive IDR credit to rectify longstanding historical problems with these plans, including misinformation and poor recordkeeping.
—Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rectify 
Dictionary Entries Near rectify
Cite this Entry
“Rectify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rectify. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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rectify
verb
Medical Definition
rectify
transitive verb
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