remediation

[ ri-mee-dee-ey-shuh n ]
/ rɪˌmi diˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

the correction of something bad or defective.

Origin of remediation

1810–20; < Latin remediā-t(us), past participle of remediāre to remedy + -ion

VOCAB BUILDER

What does remediation mean?

Remediation is the act of remedying or correcting something that has been corrupted or that is deficient.

Remediation has two main usages. Environmental remediation is the removal of pollutants or the reversal of other environmental damage, especially in a particular location, to attempt to return it to its natural state. In education, remediation refers to instruction intended to fill gaps in a student’s core education.

Example: After years of legal battles, the chemical company finally agreed to begin remediation at the site of the former factory by removing toxins from the surrounding soil.

Where does remediation come from?

Remediation comes from the Latin verb remediāre (meaning “to cure”), which also gives us remedy. In its general sense, the first recorded use of remediation is from 1794, but its more specific uses are more recent. Its first recorded use in an educational context is from 1933 and its environmental sense only dates back to 1980.

Since its association with large-scale environmental damage has become well-established, remediation is now often used to refer to smaller-scale cleanups, especially in homes damaged by natural forces. Phrases like mold remediation and flood remediation are common search terms (that you’ll hopefully never have to use). In education, the word is often paired with a specific subject, in phrases like math remediation and reading remediation.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for remediation?

What are some words that share a root or word element with remediation?

What are some words that often get used in discussing remediation?

What are some words remediation may be commonly confused with?

How is remediation used in real life?

Remediation isn’t limited to education and the environment—it can be used in any situation when something needs to be corrected or rectified.

 

 

Try using remediation!

Is remediation used correctly in this sentence?

After seeing falling test scores in math, the school decided to implement more remediation to reinforce core skills.

British Dictionary definitions for remediation

remediation
/ (rɪˌmiːdɪˈeɪʃən) /

noun

the action of remedying something, esp the reversal or stopping of damage to the environment