rectify

rectify Definition

rec·tify (rek′tə fī′)

transitive verb -·fied′, -·fy′·ing

to put or set right; correct; amend
to adjust, as in movement or balance; adjust by calculation
Chem. to refine or purify (a liquid) by distillation, esp. by fractional or repeated distillations
Elec. to convert (alternating current) to direct current
Math. to find the length of (a curve)

Etymology: ME rectifien < MFr rectifier < LL rectificare: see recti- & -fy

rectify Related Forms

rec′·ti·fi′·able adjective rec′·ti·fi·ca′·tion noun

rectify Synonyms

redress, reform, amend; see correct 1, improve 1, revise.

rectify Usage Examples

Object

fault: Work to discover and rectify the fault in the dam ran into a number of problems.
imbalance: This article, therefore, aims to address this topic and, to some extent, rectify the imbalance.
shortcoming: Attempts to rectify these shortcomings are currently taking place.
situation: I am trying to rectify the situation with a bulk cheap purchase.
omission: Giving the taxpayer an opportunity to rectify an omission in such cases is a means of enhancing voluntary compliance.
deficiency: An action plan will then be necessary to rectify any deficiencies.

Subject

inclusion: This was rectified by inclusion of data from the 1995 All Ireland Tern Survey ( Hannon et al.

Preposition: as

matter: AGREED It was agreed to write to Roads Service requesting that the matter be rectified as a matter of urgency.

Preposition: within

period: You must arrange to get any defects listed on the report rectified within the stated period.
hour: This was rectified within 24 hours but meant that technically the distribution of the report failed to comply with the required notice period.

Modifying Another Word

inwardly: This Fellowship was subsequently renewed in 2001, where the focus switched to calcineurin regulation of inwardly rectifying potassium channels.
urgently: Representation will be made to the City Council that this should be rectified urgently.
promptly: The risk can be reduced by regularly checking and promptly rectifying defects to electrical wiring and fire alarms.
shortly: We apologize for this discrepancy, which we hope to rectify shortly.
easily: If damage is minor and easily rectified, the landlord should not be able to withhold the entire amount of the security deposit.
quickly: This was rectified quickly with no damage being caused.

Used with why or when

when: A lot of the originals have their bottom halves missing when they are found, but this is rectified when they are recast.
what: On becoming an MP, he worked closely with Gordon Brown on plans and ideas to rectify what he thought were serious weaknesses.

Preposition: in

Preposition: by

inclusion: This was rectified by inclusion of data from the 1995 All Ireland Tern Survey ( Hannon et al.

Browse dictionary entries near rectify