remedial

Meanings

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Designed to correct a basic skill gap or learning difficulty, especially in school.

   Grammar: Usually attributive; contrast advanced for students who need greater challenge.

   Patterns

   • remedial reading
   • remedial math
   • remedial classes

   She teaches remedial reading twice a week.

   The school added a remedial math class before algebra.

   Remedial support should target the exact skill gap.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Intended to fix a problem or reduce harm after something has gone wrong.

   Grammar: Mostly before nouns such as action, work, or measure.

   Patterns

   • remedial action
   • remedial work
   • remedial measures

   The company promised remedial action after the spill.

   Remedial work on the wall begins Monday.

   Inspectors ordered immediate remedial measures.

Common combinations

remedial education

Remedial education should build confidence, not shame students.

remedial instruction

Extra remedial instruction helped him catch up in writing.

remedial action

The agency demanded remedial action within thirty days.

remedial therapy

Remedial therapy focused on balance after the injury.

Synonyms and how they differ

corrective

Corrective is the broad synonym for fixing faults; remedial often implies basic gaps or schooling.

therapeutic

Therapeutic concerns treatment of illness or injury; remedial is broader and often educational or practical.

developmental

Developmental support aims at growth; remedial targets a deficiency that already exists.

Opposites

Word family

remedy noun

Something that corrects a problem or relieves a symptom.

remedy verb

To correct or relieve a problem.

remediation noun

The process of correcting a deficiency, damage, or contamination.

Commonly confused: remedial or remedy? remedial or medieval?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “remedial”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words