corrigendum: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Advanced/Low-Frequency)Formal, Academic, Technical, Business/Corporate
Quick answer
What does “corrigendum” mean?
An error to be corrected, especially in a printed text or document.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An error to be corrected, especially in a printed text or document.
1) A formal notice of an error requiring correction, often found in publishing. 2) In academic contexts, a formal correction to a published paper or document. 3) In business, a formal amendment to a legal or official document.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The plural 'corrigenda' is standard in both.
Connotations
Connotes meticulousness, formality, and scholarly or legal precision. No negative connotation.
Frequency
Equally rare and formal in both varieties, but slightly more likely to be encountered in British academic publishing due to Latin retention traditions.
Grammar
How to Use “corrigendum” in a Sentence
N (to N)The journal issued a corrigendum to the original article.N for NA corrigendum for the statistical error was published.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in formal contracts, annual reports, or regulatory filings to denote an official correction to a previously issued document.
Academic
Common in scholarly publishing; a corrigendum is published to formally correct errors in a peer-reviewed paper without retracting it.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound overly formal or pretentious.
Technical
Used in software documentation, engineering standards, or legal texts to indicate a listed error that must be fixed.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “corrigendum”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “corrigendum”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corrigendum”
- Using it as a countable singular in everyday speech (e.g., 'I made a corrigendum').
- Confusing it with 'correction' in informal contexts.
- Pronouncing it as /kəˈrɪdʒ.ən.dəm/ (stress on the second syllable).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is technically singular, but it is almost exclusively used in its plural form 'corrigenda' because errors are typically listed collectively.
They are often used interchangeably in publishing. Some style guides use 'erratum' for a printer's error and 'corrigendum' for an author's error, but this distinction is not universally followed.
It would be excessively formal and potentially confusing in most business emails. 'Correction', 'amendment', or simply stating 'there is an error in...' is more appropriate.
In British English: /ˌkɒr.ɪˈdʒen.də/. In American English: /ˌkɔːr.ɪˈdʒen.də/. The stress is on the third syllable.
An error to be corrected, especially in a printed text or document.
Corrigendum is usually formal, academic, technical, business/corporate in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific. The word itself functions like a technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CORRECT' + 'AGENDA'. A 'corrigendum' is an item on the agenda to be corrected.
Conceptual Metaphor
ERROR IS A FORMAL LISTING (A corrigendum is an error formally listed for repair).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'corrigendum' LEAST likely to be used?