remedial
rih-MEE-dee-ul
/rɪˈmiː.di.əl/
Intended as a remedy or corrective action to resolve deficiencies or health issues.
Implies fixing or correcting a specific physical fault, flaw, or bodily weakness.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'remedialis', stemming from 'remedium' (remedy), which combines 're-' (again) and 'mederi' (to heal). The Latin 'mederi' is also the root behind 'medicine' and 'medical'.
Word relationships
- corrective: Corrective focuses strictly on fixing an error; remedial conveys providing a soothing or healing remedy.
- harmful: Harmful creates or aggravates damage, whereas remedial acts to correct and heal.
Commonly confused with
- restorative: Remedial fixes a specific defect; restorative rebuilds overall vitality and energy.
Word family
- remedy (noun): A treatment or medicine that cures a defect or illness
- remediation (noun): The act of remedying or correcting a problem
Collocations
- remedial action
- remedial exercise
- remedial measure
Example sentences
- "The therapist prescribed remedial posture exercises to relieve severe lower back strain." Orthopedics
Memory hook
REMEDial puts a REMEDY into action to correct a flaw. Remedial = Corrective remedy for a fault.
When not to use
Do not use for preventive care carried out prior to any injury or deficiency.
Fun facts
- In education, 'remedial classes' borrow this medical metaphor to describe correcting learning gaps.
Related words
Explore more words
remediation, remediate, therapeutic, rectify, rehabilitate, diagnostic
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