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remediation

American  
[ri-mee-dee-ay-shuhn] / rɪˌmi diˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. the correction of something bad or defective.


remediation British  
/ rɪˌmiːdɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

  1. the action of remedying something, esp the reversal or stopping of damage to the environment

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does remediation mean? Remediation is the act of remedying or correcting something that has been corrupted or that is deficient. Remediation has two main usages. Environmental remediation is the removal of pollutants or the reversal of other environmental damage, especially in a particular location, to attempt to return it to its natural state. In education, remediation refers to instruction intended to fill gaps in a student’s core education. Example: After years of legal battles, the chemical company finally agreed to begin remediation at the site of the former factory by removing toxins from the surrounding soil.

Etymology

Origin of remediation

First recorded in 1790–1800; from Latin remediātiōn-, stem of remediātiō “act or process of healing,” equivalent to remediāt-, past participle stem of remediāre “to treat (successfully), cure” + -ion, noun suffix; see origin at remedy, -ation


Explanation

Remediation has to do with righting a wrong or correcting a fault. Students who can't read well or do their multiplication tables might need remediation to bring them up to speed. Remediation is a word for fixing things that aren't right. You often hear about criminals needing rehabilitation, which is close to remediation: after remediation, you're a better or smarter person. Students who get to college but aren't quite ready for college work need remediation. In all forms of remediation, the idea is you're going to help people get better in some way.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing remediation

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"We have already dedicated substantial personnel and resources to our ongoing remediation efforts, and those costs are in the current expense base," it added.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Sykes of Gabelli continues to favor Wells Fargo as an investment because of the ongoing remediation story after the Federal Reserve lifted its regulatory cap on the bank’s asset growth last year.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 11, 2026

The residents also told the county that Farmers has refused to pay for adequate remediation of the contaminants and declined to cover ongoing living expenses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

“Being able to get remediation as fast as possible is critical in this conversation”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

Wrexham council said, since these investigations 20 years ago, ongoing monitoring had not identified any significant changes and there was no statutory requirement for remediation.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

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