adjustment

[uh-juhst-muhnt]

noun

1. the act of adjusting; adaptation to a particular condition, position, or purpose.

2. the state of being adjusted; adjusted; orderly relation of parts or elements.

3. a device, as a knob or lever, for adjusting.

   the adjustments on a television set.

4. the act of bringing something into conformity with external requirements.

   the adjustment of one's view of reality.

5. harmony achieved by modification or change of a position.

   They worked out an adjustment of their conflicting ideas.

6. Sociology.,  a process of modifying, adapting, or altering individual or collective patterns of behavior so as to bring them into conformity with other such patterns, as with those provided by a cultural environment.

7. Insurance.,  the act of ascertaining the amount of indemnity that the party insured is entitled to receive under the policy, and of settling the claim.

8. a settlement of a disputed account or claim.

9. a change or concession, as in price or other terms, in view of minor defect or the like.

adjustment

/ əˈdʒʌstmənt /

noun

1. the act of adjusting or state of being adjusted

2. a control for regulating

   the adjustment for volume is beside the speaker

Other Word Forms

• adjustmental adjective
• misadjustment noun
• nonadjustment noun
• overadjustment noun
• preadjustment noun
• underadjustment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of adjustment¹

First recorded in 1635–45; adjust + -ment

Example Sentences

Here’s the good news: Social Security recipients — all 70+ million of them — will get a cost-of-living adjustment of 2.8% next year.

Read more on MarketWatch

Yet until recently, scientists did not fully understand how nutrients influence this process of energy adjustment.

Read more on Science Daily

These proposals show no awareness that while trade adjustment assistance, extended unemployment and our welfare system were no doubt well-intended, they have impeded workers’ transition to new jobs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"But as I started getting warmed up I started making a little bit of an adjustment, and then I started thinking I can go in and do my job."

Read more on Barron's

As a result, the 38-year-old made some adjustments to her lifestyle.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• alteration 
• arrangement 
• improvement 
• modification 
• readjustment 
• regulation