rectify
REK-tih-fye
/ˈrɛktɪfaɪ/
To put right, correct, or remedy a bad situation or physical defect.
Implies an active, corrective action that brings something back into alignment with a standard or rule.
The story behind the word. Combines 'rectus' (straight/right) and 'facere' (to make). It literally means 'to make straight'—like using a ruler to correct a crooked line.
Word relationships
- correct: Correct is a general term, while rectify often implies resolving a systemic problem or a significant error.
- damage: To inflict physical harm on something so as to impair its value or usefulness.
Commonly confused with
- amend: Amend means to alter a document or law to improve it, while rectify means to fix a mistake or physical defect.
Word family
- rectification (noun): The action of putting something right.
- rectifiable (adjective): Capable of being corrected.
Collocations
- rectify a situation
- rectify an error
- rectify a defect
- immediately rectify
Example sentences
- "The manager promised to rectify the billing error as soon as possible." Customer service correspondence
Memory hook
Think of a ruler (rectus) being used to draw a straight line, correcting a crooked one. Making it straight and right.
When not to use
Do not use to describe simply hiding or covering up a mistake; it must be a genuine correction.
Fun facts
- In electrical engineering, a 'rectifier' is a device that converts alternating current (which flows back and forth) into direct current (which flows in a straight line).
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