self-correcting

adjective

self-cor·​rect·​ing ˌself-kə-ˈrek-tiŋ How to pronounce self-correcting (audio)
: correcting or compensating for one's own errors or weaknesses

Examples of self-correcting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The lesson is that healthcare lacks the self-correcting mechanisms that forced aviation to change. — Joe Kiani, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026 Tucked in, the bird becomes nearly neutral – less self-correcting, but far easier to maneuver sharply. — New Atlas, 2 July 2026 Our scientific foundation, which includes the full suite of data and the scientific method for self-correcting and making progress, is sturdier and stronger than at any point in history. — Big Think, 12 Nov. 2025 The question now is how much more hollowing out Americans will tolerate, and whether the nation’s self-correcting mechanisms are still operational. — Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for self-correcting

Word History

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-correcting was in 1803

Rhymes for self-correcting

See All Rhymes for self-correcting

Browse Nearby Words

self-copulation
self-correcting
self-corrective
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Self-correcting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-correcting. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All