remedial
Americanadjective
-
intended to correct or improve one's skill in a specified field.
remedial math.
- Synonyms:
- corrective
adjective
-
affording a remedy; curative
-
denoting or relating to special teaching, teaching methods, or material for backward and slow learners
remedial education
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of remedial
From the Late Latin word remediālis, dating back to 1645–55. See remedy, -al 1
Explanation
When you do poorly in a subject and get sent to a class that focuses on basic concepts and better study habits, you are taking a remedial class. If you know that a remedy is a type of medicine, then you have a clue to the meaning of remedial. Like a remedy, remedial classes are supposed to improve you, specifically in school subjects that you haven't done well in. Lately, the term is most often used to describe courses given to students who are not prepared for regular work. New college students often have to take remedial classes before they can begin actual university-level courses.
Vocabulary lists containing remedial
30 GRE Words Beginning with "Q" "R" and "S"
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"An Early Start on College"
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Lucky Broken Girl
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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.
The shift at Michigan, among the nation’s largest and best-known public universities, comes as schools wrestle with grade inflation and the need for remedial instruction for freshmen ill-prepared for college-level classes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
The order required that ICE develop and file, within 14 days, a remedial plan to implement comprehensive systems for medical care and disability accommodations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
Since 2020, 30 fish-kill cases have led to prosecutions or ongoing legal proceedings, resulting in £44,000 in fines and remedial costs.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Fitting the ducting or remedial work to hide it inside properties means it is likely to be more expensive than any of the other systems given the level of work involved.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
I consume this, noting every intersection and side street, but it’s remedial stuff.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
