WordGarden.iocorrectable
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /kərˈɛktəbəl/
US
Meanings
Adjective
able to be corrected or fixed
Beyond the definition
Something that's correctable isn't set in stone—it has flaws, yes, but those flaws can be fixed. Think of a misspelled word in a draft of an essay. It's incorrect now, but easily correctable with a quick edit. Or imagine a wobbly table leg: it's not quite right, but you can fix it by sanding it down or adding a small pad under the leg, so the problem is correctable. The term often implies that the issue isn't too serious and doesn't require starting over from scratch. A simple mistake is correctable, while a fundamental design flaw might be beyond repair.
The word "correctable" describes something containing errors or imperfections that can be remedied or improved. It suggests a degree of hope—the problem isn't insurmountable. While "incorrect" simply states that a fault exists, "correctable" highlights the possibility of making it right.
You might describe a student's errors on a test as "largely correctable," meaning they are simple mistakes that can be learned from and avoided in the future. Similarly, a software bug is considered correctable if developers can identify the source of the problem and write code to fix it.
However, "correctable" isn't always about tangible objects. It can also apply to behaviors or situations. A bad habit might be correctable with effort and discipline, while a strained relationship could be correctable through open communication and forgiveness.
It's important to note that "correctable" doesn't necessarily mean easily corrected. Something can be technically correctable but still take significant time, resources, or effort. For example, a major accounting error might be correctable, but untangling it could require a long audit and careful work.
Ultimately, if something has a flaw but isn't beyond saving—if it offers a path toward improvement—then it's likely correctable. It speaks to potential, possibility, and the power of making things right.
Examples
- 1
Paperwork
The form was sent back because of a small but correctable mistake.
- 2
Mechanical adjustment
The alignment problem is correctable with a simple adjustment.
- Patterncorrectable with + solution
able to be fixed by it
- 3
Medical treatment
In many cases, poor vision is correctable with glasses or surgery.
- 4
Workplace error
The manager saw the error as serious but still correctable, so no one was fired.
See also
Similar
- fixable
- rectifiable
- remediable
Shades of meaning
- repairable
- reversible
- improvable
Contrast
- uncorrectable
- incorrigible
Used with (collocations)
- correctable error
- correctable mistake
- correctable problem
- correctable vision
Word family
Explore
- error correction
- remediation
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- correctableadjective