redress

American  

[ree-dres, ri-dres, ri-dres] / ˈri drɛs, rɪˈdrɛs, rɪˈdrɛs /

noun

1. the setting right of what is wrong.

   redress of abuses.

   Synonyms:

   atonement, remedy, restoration

2. relief from wrong or injury.

3. compensation or satisfaction for a wrong or injury.

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verb (used with object)

1. to set right; remedy or repair (wrongs, injuries, etc.).

2. to correct or reform (abuses, evils, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   adjust, rectify, right, emend, mend, amend

3. to remedy or relieve (suffering, want, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   ease

4. to adjust evenly again, as a balance.

redress British  

/ rɪˈdrɛs /

verb

1. to put right (a wrong), esp by compensation; make reparation for

   to redress a grievance

2. to correct or adjust (esp in the phrase redress the balance )

3. to make compensation to (a person) for a wrong

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noun

1. the act or an instance of setting right a wrong; remedy or cure

   to seek redress of grievances

2. compensation, amends, or reparation for a wrong, injury, etc

3. relief from poverty or want

Related Words

Redress, reparation, restitution suggest making amends or giving indemnification for a wrong. Redress may refer either to the act of setting right an unjust situation (as by some power), or to satisfaction sought or gained for a wrong suffered: the redress of grievances. Reparation means compensation or satisfaction for a wrong or loss inflicted. The word may have the moral idea of amends: to make reparation for one's neglect; but more frequently it refers to financial compensation (which is asked for, rather than given): the reparations demanded of the aggressor nations. Restitution means literally the restoration of what has been taken from the lawful owner: He demanded restitution of his land; it may also refer to restoring the equivalent of what has been taken: They made him restitution for his land.

Other Word Forms

• redressable adjective
• redresser noun
• redressible adjective
• redressor noun
• unredressable adjective

Etymology

Origin of redress

First recorded in 1275–1325; (verb) Middle English redressen, from Middle French redresser, Old French redrecier, equivalent to re- re- + drecier “to straighten” ( dress ); (noun) Middle English, from Anglo-French redresse, redresce, derivative of the verb

Explanation

The verb redress is used when you are supposed to fix a problem and make amends. You want your parents to redress the fact that you don't have a pet. Your parents offer to get a hamster, but instead, you say you want a monkey. Redress can be used as both a noun and a verb. In the noun form, it is the compensation for setting something right. As a verb it means to correct, right a wrong, or make restitution for something. The union organizers wanted the company to redress the fact that workers weren't getting lunch breaks.

Example Sentences

He has demanded both compensatory damages to redress his own harms as well as punitive damages “to deter future unconstitutional conduct.”

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

The Mexican government says it is also helping families of the deceased who may turn to U.S. courts to seek legal redress against ICE.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

He likened it to efforts by U.S. attorneys in the Biden administration to identify and redress wrongful convictions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Seema Misra, who ran a post office in West Byfleet, Surrey, criticised ongoing delays as an MPs' report found thousands were awaiting full redress, but said the main issue was accountability.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

"I saw the queues, the shortages, the filthiness of public lavatories, the bureaucracy, the corruption, the red tape, the rudeness of officials, the impossibility of obtaining redress when one had a complaint," he remembered.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Related Words

• amend
• correct
• counteract
• even out
• mend
• neutralize
• regulate
• remedy
• restore
• vindicate