# correction

/kɝˈɛkʃən/ (US) · /kəɹˈɛkʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/correction
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. fixing a mistake

noun · CEFR B1

the act of fixing an error or the change you make to make something correct.

For teachers: the act or process of rectifying an error; a specific substitution or adjustment made to achieve accuracy.

- The teacher made a small correction to the student's essay with a red pen.
- After reviewing the initial draft, the editor suggested several minor corrections to ensure the historical dates were entirely accurate.

### 2. prison system

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the punishment or treatment of people who have broken the law.

For teachers: the punishment, treatment, and rehabilitation of offenders through a judicial system.

- He spent ten years working in the department of corrections.
- The state's approach to corrections has shifted from purely punitive measures toward vocational training and psychological rehabilitation.

Usage: Often used in the plural form 'corrections' when referring to the department or industry.

### 3. stock market drop

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a sudden drop in the price of stocks after they have been rising for a long time.

For teachers: a decline in a stock market index or the price of an individual security, typically defined as a drop of at least 10%.

- Investors were worried that the recent price drop was the start of a market correction.
- Financial analysts noted that the market correction was overdue following eighteen months of unprecedented and unsustainable growth.

### 4. radio/military signal

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a word used in radio talking to show that the previous information was wrong and is being fixed.

For teachers: a procedural signal used in telecommunications to indicate that an error was made in the previous transmission and the correct version follows.

- The pilot said, 'Turn left heading zero-nine-zero, correction, zero-eight-zero.'
- Standard operating procedure requires the operator to state 'correction' immediately upon realising a verbal error to prevent tactical confusion.

Usage: Used as a specific spoken command in radio protocols.

## Examples

- I made a small correction to the final report.
- The teacher wrote several corrections in red ink on the student's essay to help improve the grammar.
- After the initial data entry error was discovered, the accounting department issued a formal correction to ensure the quarterly earnings reflected the true profit margins.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.