emend

verb

ē-ˈmend 

emended; emending; emends

transitive verb

: to correct usually by textual alterations

emended the manuscript

emendable

ē-ˈmen-də-bəl 

adjective

emender noun

Synonyms

• amend
• correct
• debug
• rectify
• red-pencil
• reform
• remedy

Choose the Right Synonym for emend

correct, rectify, emend, remedy, redress, amend, reform, revise mean to make right what is wrong.

correct implies taking action to remove errors, faults, deviations, defects.

correct your spelling

rectify implies a more essential changing to make something right, just, or properly controlled or directed.

rectify a misguided policy

emend specifically implies correction of a text or manuscript.

emend a text

remedy implies removing or making harmless a cause of trouble, harm, or evil.

set out to remedy the evils of the world

redress implies making compensation or reparation for an unfairness, injustice, or imbalance.

redress past social injustices

amend, reform, revise imply an improving by making corrective changes, amend usually suggesting slight changes

amend a law

, reform implying drastic change

plans to reform the court system

, and revise suggesting a careful examination of something and the making of necessary changes.

revise the schedule

Examples of emend in a Sentence

the first printout quickly revealed that our computer program needed to be emended

Recent Examples on the Web

Editor’s Note: This article has been emended since its initial publication. —Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 24 Jan. 2020

Since preservation is no longer an issue, why not amend and emend the rules to play out the final? —Jon Wertheim, SI.com, 24 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin emendare — more at amend

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

emend

verb

ē-ˈmend 

: to correct usually by changing the wording of

emend a text

emendation

ˌē-ˌmen-ˈdā-shən

ˌem-ən-

noun

Medical Definition

Emend

trademark

i-ˈmend 

—used for a preparation of aprepitant