Correctional

/kəˈrekʃənəl/ adjective

Definition

Related to the system of prisons and rehabilitation aimed at correcting criminal behavior, or serving to correct or fix something.

Etymology

From 'correction,' from Latin 'corrigere' (to make straight), combining 'cor-' (together) and 'regere' (to guide). The sense is of guiding or straightening out behavior.

Kelly Says

The name 'correctional facility' is actually quite optimistic—it assumes prisons can 'correct' behavior and straighten people out, though historians argue this philosophy only became dominant in the 1800s; before that, prisons were just places to hold people, not fix them.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.