correct (corrects 3rd person present) (correcting present participle) (corrected past tense & past participle )
1 adj If something is correct, it is in accordance with the facts and has no mistakes.
FORMAL
(=right) (Antonym: incorrect)
The correct answers can be found at the bottom of page 8..., The following information was correct at time of going to press...
correctly adv ADV with v
Did I pronounce your name correctly?...
correctness n-uncount
(=accuracy)
Ask the investor to check the correctness of what he has written.
2 adj If someone is correct, what they have said or thought is true.
FORMAL v-link ADJ
(=right) (Antonym: wrong)
You are absolutely correct. The leaves are from a bay tree..., If Casey is correct, the total cost of the cleanup would come to $110 billion.
3 adj The correct thing or method is the thing or method that is required or is most suitable in a particular situation.
ADJ n
(=right)
The use of the correct materials was crucial..., ...the correct way to produce a crop of tomato plants.
correctly adv ADV with v
(=properly)
If correctly executed, this shot will give them a better chance of getting the ball close to the hole.
4 adj If you say that someone is correctin doing something, you approve of their action.
usu ADJ in -ing/n
(=right)
You are perfectly correct in trying to steer your mother towards increased independence..., I think the president was correct to reject the offer.
correctly adv ADV with cl
When an accident happens, quite correctly questions are asked.
5 verb If you correct a problem, mistake, or fault, you do something which puts it right.
(=rectify)
He has criticised the government for inefficiency and delays in correcting past mistakes. V n
correction (corrections plural) n-var
...legislation to require the correction of factual errors..., We will then make the necessary corrections.
6 verb If you correct someone, you say something which you think is more accurate or appropriate than what they have just said.
`Actually, that isn't what happened,' George corrects me... V n with quote
I must correct him on a minor point. V n
7 verb When someone corrects a piece of writing, they look at it and mark the mistakes in it.
It took an extraordinary effort to focus on preparing his classes or correcting his students' work. V n
8 adj If a person or their behaviour is correct, their behaviour is in accordance with social or other rules.
(=proper) I think English men are very polite and very correct...
correctly adv ADV with v The High Court of Parliament began very correctly with a prayer for the Queen.
correctness n-uncount ...his stiff-legged gait and formal correctness.
politically correct
If you say that someone is politically correct, you mean that they are extremely careful not to offend or upset any group of people in society who have a disadvantage, or who have been treated differently because of their sex, race, or disability. adj
The politically correct are people who are politically correct., n-plural the N
