redress

1 of 2

verb

re·​dress ri-ˈdres 

redressed; redressing; redresses

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to set right : remedy

looked to charity, not to legislation, to redress social wrongs

—W. R. Inge

(2)

: to make up for : compensate

b

: to remove the cause of (a grievance or complaint)

c

: to exact reparation for : avenge

2

archaic

a

: to requite (a person) for a wrong or loss

b

: heal

redresser noun

redress

2 of 2

noun

re·​dress ri-ˈdres 

ˈrē-ˌdres

1

a

: relief from distress

b

: means or possibility of seeking a remedy

without redress

2

: compensation for wrong or loss : reparation

3

a

: an act or instance of redressing

b

: retribution, correction

Synonyms

Verb

• avenge
• requite
• retaliate
• revenge
• venge [archaic]

Noun

• compensation
• damages
• indemnification
• indemnity
• quittance
• recompense
• recoupment
• remuneration
• reparation
• reprisal(s)
• requital
• restitution
• satisfaction

Choose the Right Synonym for redress

correct, rectify, emend, remedy, redress, amend, reform, revise mean to make right what is wrong.

correct implies taking action to remove errors, faults, deviations, defects.

correct your spelling

rectify implies a more essential changing to make something right, just, or properly controlled or directed.

rectify a misguided policy

emend specifically implies correction of a text or manuscript.

emend a text

remedy implies removing or making harmless a cause of trouble, harm, or evil.

set out to remedy the evils of the world

redress implies making compensation or reparation for an unfairness, injustice, or imbalance.

redress past social injustices

amend, reform, revise imply an improving by making corrective changes, amend usually suggesting slight changes

amend a law

, reform implying drastic change

plans to reform the court system

, and revise suggesting a careful examination of something and the making of necessary changes.

revise the schedule

Examples of redress in a Sentence

Verb

It is time to redress the injustices of the past.

the belief that redressing a murder with another murder, even if carried out by the state, is not morally justified

Noun

the new skis were certainly an adequate redress for the lost snowboard

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That would be an error that no amount of military strength could redress. —Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025

Trump on Friday signed an executive order to cut U.S. aid to South Africa, citing an expropriation act that President Cyril Ramaphosa signed last month aiming to redress land inequalities that stem from South Africa's history of white supremacy. —Reuters, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025

Noun

As of Friday, agency leadership had also not given the green light to officials to resume reviewing and approving plans for companies themselves to distribute consumer redress payments directly, according to the sources, indicating that the payment plans would not be able to move ahead. —Douglas Gillison, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025

Despite legislation banning discrimination based on caste, activists say the stigma leaves India’s more than 260 million Dalits vulnerable to abuse and less able to seek redress for crimes committed against them. —Esha Mitra, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French redresser to set upright, restore, redress, from re- + dresser to set straight — more at dress

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing redress

• redress the balance

Rhymes for redress

• abbess
• abscess
• access
• address
• assess
• caress
• confess
• depress
• digress
• distress
• egress
• excess

Kids Definition

redress

1 of 2 verb

re·​dress ri-ˈdres 

: to set (as a wrong) right : remedy, relieve

redresser noun

redress

2 of 2 noun

re·​dress ri-ˈdres 

ˈrē-ˌdres

1

a

: relief from distress

b

: the way or possibility of seeking a remedy

2

: something that makes up for wrong or loss

3

: an act or instance of redressing

Legal Definition

redress

noun

re·​dress ri-ˈdres, ˈrē-ˌdres 

1

a

: relief from distress

b

: a means of obtaining a remedy

2

: compensation (as damages) for wrong or loss

redress

ri-ˈdres 

transitive verb