redress

[ree-dres, ri-dres, ri-dres]

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.

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

/ 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

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of redress¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of redress¹

C14: from Old French redrecier to set up again, from _re- + drecier to straighten; see _dress

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Instead of redressing problems based on individual need, this viewpoint believes real justice requires favoring the most marginalized group and redistributing power and resources in its direction.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Instead, we saw millions of Americans exercising their First Amendment right “peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

For those of us who have spent decades railing at, and occasionally even trying to redress, the imbalance, these should be exhilarating times.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The 2017 tax cuts, it was said, were designed to redress the imbalance and make American enterprises more globally competitive.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Lloyds Banking Group is setting aside an additional £800m for car finance compensation claims, bringing the total amount allocated by the bank for redress to nearly £2bn.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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