remediation

American  

[ri-mee-dee-ey-shuhn] / rɪˌmi diˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the correction of something bad or defective.

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remediation British  

/ rɪˌmiːdɪˈeɪʃən /

noun

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

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

remediation

Delaware Life has until the end of year to divest of most of the investments, under a remediation plan with the state insurance regulator in Delaware.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

There is currently no timescale for the remediation works to be completed as the "full scope of works has not yet been finalised".

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Amentum holds contracts in a range of sectors including space exploration, national security, robotics, and environmental remediation; and in April 2026 took over the contract for an ICE facility in Texas, Camp East Montana.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

As a method of coping and of shoring up the land, Ragusa enlisted a Sierra Madre company called Hardy Californians to plant a remediation seed mix across her lot.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

"This the first time anyone has conceived using fire whirls for oil spill remediation, and it's really just the beginning," said Oran, professor of aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2026