redress

redress
American 

[ree-dres, ri-dres, ri-dres]
/ ;ri dr;s, r;;dr;s, r;;dr;s /
noun
the setting right of what is wrong.

redress of abuses.

Synonyms:
atonement, remedy, restoration
relief from wrong or injury.

compensation or satisfaction for a wrong or injury.

verb (used with object)
redresses, redressed, redressing
to set right; remedy or repair (wrongs, injuries, etc.).

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

Synonyms:
adjust, rectify, right, emend, mend, amend
to remedy or relieve (suffering, want, etc.).

Synonyms:
ease
to adjust evenly again, as a balance.

redress
British 
/ r;;dr;s /
verb
to put right (a wrong), esp by compensation; make reparation for

to redress a grievance

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

to make compensation to (a person) for a wrong

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
noun
the act or an instance of setting right a wrong; remedy or cure

to seek redress of grievances

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

relief from poverty or want

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Synonym Usage
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
Derived Forms
redresser
noun
redressor
noun
redressable
adjective
redressible
adjective
unredressable
adjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
redressing
present
redressed
past
Conjugated Forms
Present
redress
simple
redresses
simple
have redressed
perfect
has redressed
perfect
am redressing
progressive
are redressing
progressive
is redressing
progressive
have been redressing
perfect progressive
has been redressing
perfect progressive
Past
redressed
simple
had redressed
perfect
was redressing
progressive
were redressing
progressive
had been redressing
perfect progressive
Future
will redress
simple
will have redressed
perfect
will be redressing
progressive
will have been redressing
perfect progressive
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” ( see dress); (noun) Middle English, from Anglo-French redresse, redresce, derivative of the verb

Explanation
Vocabulary.com
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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com
Vocabulary lists containing redress
Vocabulary.com
The Declaration of Independence
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The Bill of Rights
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Monster
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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.

See Examples For:

redress

redresses

redressed

redressing
He pointed out that such policies, often sold as a temporary redress to right a historical wrong, end up becoming almost impossible to reverse.

From The Wall Street Journal ; Jul. 15, 2026

Logo link to The Wall Street Journal
The redress package will be paid for by the firm's shareholders and not through customer bills.

From BBC ; Jul. 14, 2026

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In practice, this means that only the parties named in a case can get immediate redress.

From Salon ; Jul. 9, 2026

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"The political branches or other international actors may well provide redress," Barrett said.

From Barron's ; Jun. 23, 2026

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They quoted the First Amendment guarantee of “the right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling


Related Words
amend
correct
counteract
even out
mend
neutralize
regulate
remedy
restore
vindicate