adjustment
uh-JUHST-muhnt
Adjustment (noun) means a small change made to improve or correct something. Example: “I made a small adjustment to the saddle and the bike felt far more comfortable.”
noun
1
A small change made to improve or correct something.
"I made a small adjustment to the saddle and the bike felt far more comfortable."
"A minor adjustment to the recipe made all the difference."
"The company made adjustments to its pricing after customer complaints."
2
The process of getting used to a new situation.
"The adjustment to working from home was hard for him at first."
"Her adjustment to life at university went smoothly once she made a few friends."
"Moving to a new country requires a real adjustment period."
How to use adjustment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA change made to fix, improve, or adapt something.
Common pairings
make an adjustment
adjustment period
minor adjustment
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Word forms
- Plural
- adjustments
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I made a small _____ to the saddle and the bike felt far more comfortable.
Etymology
Traces back through French ajustement to Latin iustus ("just, correct") — the underlying idea of making something right or precise.
Synonyms
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modification
alteration
tweak
correction
refinement
fine-tuning
accommodation
allowance
adaptation
adaption
readjustment
fitting
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “adjustment” mean?
The word “adjustment” means a small change made to improve or correct something. In plain terms, a change made to fix, improve, or adapt something.
How do you pronounce “adjustment”?
“Adjustment” is pronounced uh-JUHST-muhnt (/əˈd͡ʒʌst.mənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “adjustment” in a sentence?
Here is “adjustment” used in a sentence: “A minor adjustment to the recipe made all the difference.”
What part of speech is “adjustment”?
“Adjustment” is a noun.
Where does the word “adjustment” come from?
The word “adjustment” comes from Latin. Traces back through French ajustement to Latin iustus ("just, correct") — the underlying idea of making something right or precise.
Is “adjustment” a common word?
“Adjustment” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “adjustment” have?
“Adjustment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small change made to improve or correct something.
What is the difference between an "adjustment" and a "change"?
A "change" can be large or small and simply means something becomes different, while an "adjustment" is usually a small, deliberate change made to improve, correct, or fine-tune something. Adjustments are minor by nature.
What is the difference between "adjustment" and "adaptation"?
An "adjustment" is often a specific small change or the early stage of settling into something new, while "adaptation" suggests a deeper, longer-term process of changing to fit new conditions. Adaptation implies more fundamental change than a simple adjustment.
What prepositions are used with "adjustment"?
You usually make an "adjustment to" something, and you can talk about an "adjustment in" a level or figure. When describing settling in, people speak of the "adjustment to" a new job, city, or routine.
What words commonly go with "adjustment"?
Common pairings include "make an adjustment," "minor adjustment," "slight adjustment," and "period of adjustment." The phrase "period of adjustment" refers to the time it takes to get used to a new situation.
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