What does "redress" mean?
The act of redressing; a making right; amendment; correction; reformation.
Redress
/ɹɪˈdɹɛs/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of redressing; a making right; amendment; correction; reformation.
- Grammar: redress is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: remedy, restitution, adjust, amend.
- Useful contrasts: aggravate, deprive, diminish.
- Usage evidence: The law is meant to redress decades of discrimination against the country's ethnic minorities.
How to use "redress"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "redress" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "redress" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "redress" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "redress" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of redressing; a making right; amendment; correction; reformation. countable, uncountable
"Iohn. [of Lancaster] […] Let's drinke together friendly, and embrace, / That all their eyes may beare thoſe Tokens home, / Of our reſtored Loue and Amitie. / Biſh. [Archbishop of York] I take your Princely word, for theſe redreſſes."
- 2 The redecoration of a previously existing film set so that it can double for another set.
"The Honeydukes set in this film is a redress of the set of Flourish and Blotts that was seen in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which, in turn, was a redress of the Ollivander's set from the first film."
- 3 act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil wordnet
- 4 A setting right, as of injury, oppression, or wrong, such as the redress of grievances; hence, indemnification; relief; remedy; reparation. countable, uncountable
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
- 5 a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury wordnet
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A possibility to set right, or a possibility to seek a remedy, for instance in court countable, uncountable
- 7 One who, or that which, gives relief; a redresser. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To put in order again; to set right; to revise.
"Let us divide our labours; thou, where choice / Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind / The woodbine round this arbour, or direct / The clasping ivy where to climb; while I, / In yonder spring of roses intermixed / With myrtle, find what to redress till noon: […]"
- 2 To dress again.
"The top soil, which was removed before the main excavations, is being redressed on the new slopes to a depth of 4 in. and sown with grass seed."
- 3 make reparations or amends for wordnet
- 4 To set right (a wrong); to repair, (an injury or damage); to make amends for; to remedy; to relieve from.
"And for thoſe Wrongs, thoſe bitter Iniuries, […] / I doubt not, but with Honor to redreſſe."
- 5 To redecorate a previously existing film set so that it can double for another set.
"Meanwhile the actors rearranged themselves into a different blocking, as the prop department redressed the set."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 To make amends or compensation to; to relieve of anything unjust or oppressive; to bestow relief upon.
"Nor envy we / Thy great reknown, nor grudge thy victory; / 'Tis thine, O king! the afflicted to redress, / And fame has fill'd the world with thy success: […]"
- 7 To put upright again; to restore. obsolete, transitive
"Syr ſaid Dynadan I ſhalle gyue you my beholdynge / wel ſaid Palomydes / thenne ſhall ye ſee how we ſhalle redreſſe our myghtes"
Example
"The law is meant to redress decades of discrimination against the country's ethnic minorities."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "redress"?
Common synonyms include: remedy, restitution, adjust, amend, amends, amends.
How do you use "redress" in a sentence?
The law is meant to redress decades of discrimination against the country's ethnic minorities.
How do you pronounce "redress"?
Pronounced /ɹɪˈdɹɛs/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English redressen, from Anglo-Norman radresser, redrescer, redrescier and Middle French redresser (“to stand (someone or something) up; to stand up again; to rebuild, to repair something damaged, to rectify, to restore; to obtain redress; to cure; (of hair) to stand on end; to revise a judgment”) (modern French redresser), from Old French redrecier (“to stand (someone or something) up; to stand up again”), from Old French re- (“again, once more”) (from Latin re-, from Proto-Italic *wre (“again”); further etymology uncertain) + Old French drechier, drecier, dresser (“to dress; to stand up”) (from Vulgar Latin *drēctiāre, a contracted form of *dīrēctiāre, from Latin dīrēctus (“straight”)). Compare Catalan redreçar, Spanish redreçar (obsolete), Italian redreçare, redrezare, redricciare, ridirizzare (all obsolete), ridrizzare, Late Latin redressare (“to repair; to set right”), Old Occitan redreisar, redresar.
Etymology 2
From re- + dress.