Other forms: rectified, rectifying, rectifies
To rectify is to put a mistake right. Rectify the error, rectify the situation, steps to rectify.
It is formal and belongs to complaints and undertakings — we will rectify the error — where put right would do the same job less impressively. In electronics, to rectify is to convert alternating current to direct, and a rectifier is the component that does it. In chemistry it means to purify by distillation. Note rectification; and that the Latin means to make straight.
1verbrectifyTo put a mistake right.
“The shop apologised and promised to rectify the mistake on my bill.”
2verbconvertTo convert alternating current to direct.
“A diode is used to rectify the current from the power supply.”
rectify is a putting right.
Also accepted in games: correct, fix
Medieval Latin rectificare is rectus, straight, plus facere, to make. Correct, direct and rectangle come from the same straightness.
Proto-Indo-European
*h₃reǵ-
Latin
rēctus — straight
Medieval Latin
rēctificō — to make right
Anglo-Norman
rectifiier
Middle English
rectifien
English, today
rectify
Built from
From Middle English rectifien, from Anglo-Norman rectifiier, rectefier (“to make straight”), from Medieval Latin rēctificō (“to make right”), from Latin rēctus (“straight”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Sharper Verbs