Meaning & use
recalibration
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable or uncountabletechnical
The act of adjusting a device or system again so that it measures or works correctly.
Grammar: Can be used as a countable noun (a recalibration) or uncountable (the process of recalibration).
Patterns
- recalibration of something
- require recalibration
- undergo recalibration
The laboratory equipment needs recalibration every six months to ensure accurate results.
After the software update, a full recalibration of the sensors took several hours.
The technician performed a recalibration of the temperature gauge before the experiment.
nouncountable or uncountablefigurative
A change in the way someone thinks about or evaluates a situation, especially after new information.
Grammar: Often used with 'of' to show what is being recalibrated: a recalibration of expectations.
Patterns
- recalibration of expectations
- a recalibration in thinking
- call for recalibration
The surprising election results led to a recalibration of the party's strategy.
His recent travels caused a personal recalibration of what he valued most.
The company announced a recalibration of its goals for the coming year.
Word forms
| plural | recalibrations |
|---|
Common combinations
- require recalibration
- The old scales require recalibration after being moved.
- undergo recalibration
- The system will undergo recalibration next week.
- periodic recalibration
- Periodic recalibration keeps the instruments reliable.
- recalibration of expectations
- The disappointing sales figures forced a recalibration of expectations.
- full recalibration
- A full recalibration of the device is recommended annually.
Synonyms and how they differ
- adjustment
- Adjustment is a more general word for any small change; recalibration specifically means adjusting again to restore accuracy or correct functioning.
- realignment
- Realignment often suggests bringing things back into a correct line or relationship, while recalibration focuses on resetting a measurement or standard.
Word family
- recalibrate verb
- To adjust a device or system again so it works correctly.
- calibrate verb
- To set or check the accuracy of an instrument.
- calibration noun
- The act of checking or adjusting an instrument's accuracy.
Commonly confused: recalibration or calibration?
recalibration vs calibration
Calibration is the first setting or check; recalibration is doing it again after a change or over time.
Practice
The telescope's images were blurry, so the team scheduled a ______ of the optics.
Choose one answer.
The sentence needs a noun after 'a', and the context of fixing a problem after use points to 'recalibration'. 'Calibration' would suggest an initial setting, not a repeat adjustment. 'Recalibrate' is a verb and cannot follow 'a' directly. 'Recalibrating' is a gerund but would need a different structure, such as 'scheduled recalibrating the optics' (less natural) or 'scheduled a recalibrating of the optics' (awkward).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “recalibration”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.