Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense rectifies, present participle rectifying, past tense, past participle rectified
verb
If you rectify something that is wrong, you change it so that it becomes correct or satisfactory.
Only an act of Congress could rectify the situation. [VERB noun]
That mistake could have been rectified within 28 days. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: correct, right, improve, reform More Synonyms of rectify
More Synonyms of rectify
rectify in British English
(ˈrɛktɪˌfaɪ)
verbWord forms: -fies, -fying or -fied(transitive)
1.
to put right; correct; remedy
2.
to separate (a substance) from a mixture or refine (a substance) by fractional distillation
3.
to convert (alternating current) into direct current
4. mathematics
to determine the length of (a curve)
5.
to cause (an object) to assume a linear motion or characteristic
Derived forms
rectifiable (ˈrectiˌfiable)
adjective
rectification (ˌrectifiˈcation)
noun
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Medieval Latin rectificāre to adjust, from Latin rectus straight + facere to make
rectify in American English
(ˈrɛktəˌfaɪ)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈrectiˌfied or ˈrectiˌfying
1.
to put or set right; correct; amend
2.
to adjust, as in movement or balance; adjust by calculation
3. Chemistry
to refine or purify (a liquid) by distillation, esp. by fractional or repeated distillations
4. Electricity
to convert (alternating current) to direct current
5. Ancient Mathematics
to find the length of (a curve)
Derived forms
rectifiable (ˈrectiˌfiable)
adjective
rectification (ˌrectifiˈcation)
noun
Word origin
ME rectifien < MFr rectifier < LL rectificare: see recti- & -fy
rectify in Electrical Engineering
(rɛktɪfaɪ)
Word forms: (present) rectifies, (past) rectified, (perfect) rectified, (progressive) rectifying
verb
(Electrical engineering: Circuits, Electrical power, Computing and control)
If a device rectifies current, it converts alternating current into direct current.
When the alternating current supply is rectified to obtain the direct current needed by most electronics, the current waveform maybe far from sinusoidal.
In order to produce steady DC from a rectified AC supply, a smoothing circuit or filter is required.
If a device rectifies current, it converts alternating current into direct current.
Examples of 'rectify' in a sentence
rectify
It is always the responsibility of the retailer to rectify the situation.
The Sun (2016)
We must look at what went wrong and rectify it.
The Sun (2016)
Try to rectify the situation if that is at all possible.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVE THINKING: Everything you have always known about positive thinking but wereafraid to put into practice (2001)
How can anyone rectify the wrong in a case like this?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We have rectified that problem but we are leaking a few more than we would like.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This will exclude specific problems and will also determine whether artificial growth hormones could rectify the situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There was a problem and we rectified it.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
These five books seek to rectify the situation.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
The owner agreed to rectify the problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The desultory catalogue does little to rectify the situation.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Surely then it rests with these people to rectify the problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Our group of parents are determined to rectify the situation.
The Sun (2010)
Monitor actual performance against your forecasts and act quickly to rectify any problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It should be compelled to rectify this situation speedily.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He is reluctant to undergo laser surgery to try to rectify the problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Right intention is indeed no more than the intention to rectify the wrong specified in the just cause.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Do not take it to rectify a bleeding problem without consulting your doctor first about the underlying cause.
Shreeve, Caroline (Dr.) How to Lower High Blood Pressure (1994)
What steps can be taken to ensure that the situation can be rectified while we can still turn things around?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The department moved to rectify the situation yesterday by announcing a consultation to look at proposals for managing overseas applicants in the future.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
If he doesn't rectify this situation things could become very bad for him indeed.
The Sun (2010)
The programs pinpoint where companies are wasting money and show how they can rectify the problem by getting employees to change their behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Still, no doubt all these problems will be rectified in the weeks to come.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The fire service, gas and electricity board are on the scene to identify and rectify the cause.
The Sun (2010)
To rectify the situation we offered all his creditors 50p in the pound in full and final settlement.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
rectify
British English: rectify /ˈrɛktɪˌfaɪ/ VERB
If you rectify something that is wrong, you change it so that it becomes correct or satisfactory.
We are trying hard to rectify the situation.
American English: rectify
Arabic: يُصَحِّحُ
Brazilian Portuguese: retificar
Chinese: 矫正
Croatian: ispraviti
Czech: napravit
Danish: berigtige
Dutch: rectificeren
European Spanish: rectificar
Finnish: oikaista
French: rectifier
German: berichtigen
Greek: επανορθώνω
Italian: rettificare
Japanese: 修正する
Korean: 개정하다 교정하다
Norwegian: korrigere
Polish: poprawić
European Portuguese: retificar
Romanian: a corecta
Russian: исправлять
Latin American Spanish: rectificar
Swedish: rätta till
Thai: แก้ให้ถูกต้อง
Turkish: düzeltmek hatalı bir davranış
Ukrainian: виправляти
Vietnamese: sửa lại
Chinese translation of 'rectify'
rectify
(ˈrɛktɪfaɪ)
vt
改正 (gǎizhèng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to put right
Only an act of Congress could rectify the situation.
Synonyms
correct
You may need surgery to correct the problem.
right
We've made progress in righting the wrongs of the past.
improve
He improved their house.
reform
his plans to reform the country's economy
square
fix
If something is broken, we fix it.
repair
They needed to repair the damage done by the interview.
adjust
To attract investors the country has adjusted its tax laws.
remedy
A great deal has been done to remedy the situation.
amend
The committee put forward proposals to amend the penal system.
make good
mend
There will be disciplinary action if you do not mend your ways.
redress
to redress the economic imbalance
put right
set the record straight
emend
2 (verb)
Definition
to separate (a substance) from a mixture by distillation
Synonyms
separate
refine
Oil is refined so as to remove naturally occurring impurities.
purify
Plants can filter and purify the air in your office.
distil
When water is used it must be distilled.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adjust
To attract investors the country has adjusted its tax laws.
Synonyms
change,
order,
reform,
fix,
arrange,
alter,
adapt,
revise,
modify,
set,
regulate,
amend,
reconcile,
remodel,
redress,
rectify,
recast,
customize,
make conform
in the sense of amend
Definition
to make small changes to something such as a piece of writing or a contract, in order to improve it
The committee put forward proposals to amend the penal system.
Synonyms
change,
improve,
reform,
fix,
correct,
repair,
edit,
alter,
enhance,
update,
revise,
modify,
remedy,
rewrite,
mend,
rectify,
tweak (informal),
ameliorate,
redraw,
rebrand,
better
in the sense of distil
Definition
to subject to or obtain by distillation
When water is used it must be distilled.
Synonyms
purify,
process,
filter,
refine,
treat,
evaporate,
condense,
sublimate,
vaporize
Synonyms of 'rectify'
rectify
Explore 'rectify' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fix
Definition
to repair
If something is broken, we fix it.
Synonyms
repair,
mend,
service,
sort,
correct,
restore,
adjust,
regulate,
see to,
overhaul,
patch up,
get working,
put right,
put to rights
in the sense of improve
Definition
to make or become better in quality
He improved their house.
Synonyms
enhance,
better,
add to,
upgrade,
amend,
mend,
augment,
embellish,
touch up,
ameliorate,
polish up
in the sense of mend
Definition
(esp. of behaviour) to improve
There will be disciplinary action if you do not mend your ways.
Synonyms
improve,
better,
reform,
correct,
revise,
amend,
rectify,
ameliorate,
emend
in the sense of purify
Definition
to free (something) of harmful or inferior matter
Plants can filter and purify the air in your office.
Synonyms
clean,
filter,
cleanse,
refine,
clarify,
disinfect,
fumigate,
decontaminate,
sanitize,
detoxify
in the sense of redress
Definition
to adjust in order to make fair or equal
to redress the economic imbalance
Synonyms
put right,
reform,
balance,
square,
correct,
ease,
repair,
relieve,
adjust,
regulate,
remedy,
amend,
mend,
rectify,
even up,
restore the balance
in the sense of refine
Definition
to make free from impurities
Oil is refined so as to remove naturally occurring impurities.
Synonyms
purify,
process,
filter,
cleanse,
clarify,
sift,
distil,
rarefy
in the sense of reform
Definition
to improve (a law or institution) by correcting abuses
his plans to reform the country's economy
Synonyms
improve,
better,
correct,
restore,
repair,
rebuild,
amend,
reclaim,
mend,
renovate,
reconstruct,
remodel,
rectify,
rehabilitate,
regenerate,
reorganize,
reconstitute,
revolutionize,
ameliorate,
emend
in the sense of remedy
Definition
to put right or improve
A great deal has been done to remedy the situation.
Synonyms
put right,
redress,
rectify,
reform,
fix,
correct,
solve,
repair,
relieve,
ameliorate,
set to rights
in the sense of repair
Definition
to make up for (a mistake or injury)
They needed to repair the damage done by the interview.
Synonyms
put right,
make up for,
compensate for,
rectify,
square,
retrieve,
redress
in the sense of right
Definition
to compensate for or redress
We've made progress in righting the wrongs of the past.