redress

/rɪˈdrɛs/ (verb), /ˈriːdrɛs/ (noun) formal

Say it: ri-DRESS (verb), REE-dress (noun)

1. verb To set right, remedy, or compensate for a wrong, grievance, or injustice.
The company moved quickly to redress the issue after the data breach was discovered.
2. noun A remedy or compensation for a wrong or grievance.
The protestors were seeking redress for years of mistreatment.

📖 Seen in the wild

The victims sought legal redress for the damages caused by the negligent corporation.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ redress in a sentence

He is seeking financial redress for the damage caused to his home.
The new legislation is intended to redress the balance of power between landlords and tenants.
Many civil rights leaders have argued that reparations are a necessary form of redress for slavery.
She filed a formal complaint, but felt she had no real means of redress.
The committee was formed to hear grievances and offer redress where appropriate.
Historically, one of the primary functions of a monarch was to redress the wrongs suffered by their subjects.
It is the court's duty to redress injustice.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

remedy rectify compensate reparation restitution amends satisfaction atone

remedy · broader than redress; can refer to fixing any problem, not just an injustice.

rectify · often implies correcting a specific error or mistake, sometimes in a technical sense.

compensate · focuses on making up for a loss, usually with money or other payment.

reparation · a formal term, often used for amends made by a nation for war damages or historical wrongs.

Opposites: wrong, injury, grievance, injustice, worsen

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'redress' traveled from Latin through Old French to English. It comes from the French 'redrecier', meaning 'to straighten or lift up again'. This idea of straightening something that was crooked evolved metaphorically into setting right something that was wrong or unjust.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

seek redressobtain redressoffer redressredress a grievanceredress an injusticeredress the balance

Redress is a strong, formal word reserved for serious situations involving injustice or significant grievances. Using it for a minor mistake, like getting a coffee order wrong, would sound strange; you would simply 'correct' or 'fix' that. It belongs in discussions of law, politics, and social justice, where a formal process of 'setting things right' is required.

Word family: redressable

💬 Quick answers

What does redress mean?

Redress means to remedy or compensate for a wrong or grievance. As a noun, it refers to the remedy or compensation itself, such as a payment or an apology.

What is the difference between redress and remedy?

"Redress" specifically involves correcting an injustice or a wrong done to someone. "Remedy" is a broader term for any solution to a problem, whether it's a social injustice or a leaky faucet.

Is 'redress' a formal word?

Yes, redress is a formal word. It is most often used in legal, political, and academic contexts and is not common in casual conversation.

How do you pronounce redress?

The pronunciation depends on whether it's a verb or a noun. The verb is stressed on the second syllable (ri-DRESS), while the noun is often stressed on the first (REE-dress).

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