Adjustment: meaning, definitions and examples

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adjustment

 

[ əˈdʒʌstmənt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

financial

A small change or improvement made to a system, process, or situation to make it more suitable or effective.

Synonyms

adaptation, alteration, change, modification.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
adjustment

Used when referring to small changes made to achieve a desired result, often in a technical or professional setting.

  • She made an adjustment to the layout of the report.
  • The mechanic performed a minor adjustment on the engine.
modification

Often used in technical or scientific settings to describe changes made to something to improve or correct it.

  • The scientist made a modification to the experiment's protocol.
  • They suggested a few modifications to the project plan.
alteration

Usually refers to changes made to clothing or other items to better fit or suit someone or something.

  • She took the dress in for alteration to get a better fit.
  • The tailor suggested some alterations to the suit.
adaptation

Best used when referring to a change made to fit a new environment or situation, often in broader or evolutionary contexts.

  • The animal's adaptation to its changing habitat was remarkable.
  • His adaptation to the new job was impressive.
change

A general term used for any kind of transformation or transition, applicable in a wide variety of contexts.

  • The company is planning a major change in its management.
  • She experienced a significant change in her lifestyle.

Examples of usage

  • The adjustment of the interest rates helped stabilize the economy.
  • The company made adjustments to its production process to increase efficiency.
Context #2 | Noun

emotional

A change in behavior or attitude in order to cope with a challenging situation or to address a personal issue.

Synonyms

accommodation, adaptation, change, modification.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
adjustment

Used when making small changes or corrections to improve something or better suit a situation.

  • She made a few adjustments to her schedule to make time for exercise.
  • The car needs some minor adjustments to run smoothly.
adaptation

Used when making changes to fit a new environment or situation, often implying a more significant or gradual process.

  • His adaptation to the new job was quicker than expected.
  • The film is an adaptation of a popular novel.
accommodation

Used when making changes to suit the needs or desires of someone else, often in a collaborative or helpful manner.

  • They made accommodations for her dietary restrictions at the event.
  • The hotel made special accommodations for their guests' comfort.
modification

Used when making adjustments or alterations to improve or correct something. It often refers to more technical or detailed changes.

  • The software requires some modifications to meet the client's needs.
  • They made several modifications to the car for the race.
change

Used broadly when making something different in various ways. It can be positive, negative, or neutral, depending on the context.

  • A change in leadership brought new ideas to the company.
  • Moving to a new city is a big change.

Examples of usage

  • She made adjustments in her schedule to spend more time with her family.
  • He needed some adjustments in his life after the loss of his job.
Context #3 | Noun

mechanical

The action of setting components to a particular value or position in order to achieve the desired outcome.

Synonyms

alignment, calibration, setting, tuning.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
adjustment

Used when making small changes to improve or correct something, often used in a general context such as lifestyle or plans.

  • I made an adjustment to my work schedule.
  • After moving to a new city, I needed some time for adjustment.
alignment

Commonly used in contexts involving coordination or arrangement to bring things into proper position or agreement.

  • The wheels need alignment to ensure safe driving.
  • The company's goals are in alignment with our personal values.
tuning

Usually used in contexts related to optimization or fine-tuning, especially with musical instruments or technical systems.

  • The guitar needs tuning before the concert.
  • They spent hours tuning the software to get the best performance.
calibration

Often used in technical or scientific contexts when precise measurements or settings need to be made.

  • The laboratory equipment requires regular calibration.
  • We need to calibrate the sensors before starting the experiment.
setting

Used to describe the environment or the particular state something is in, often involves configuration of devices or scenarios.

  • The network settings were changed to improve speed.
  • The wedding had a beautiful beach setting.

Examples of usage

  • The mechanic made some adjustments to the engine to improve its performance.
  • The telescope needed frequent adjustments to focus properly.

Translations

Translations of the word "adjustment" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ajuste

🇮🇳 समायोजन

🇩🇪 Anpassung

🇮🇩 penyesuaian

🇺🇦 коригування

🇵🇱 dostosowanie

🇯🇵 調整 (ちょうせい)

🇫🇷 ajustement

🇪🇸 ajuste

🇹🇷 ayarlama

🇰🇷 조정 (jojeong)

🇸🇦 تعديل (ta‘dil)

🇨🇿 přizpůsobení

🇸🇰 úprava

🇨🇳 调整 (tiáozhěng)

🇸🇮 prilagoditev

🇮🇸 aðlögun

🇰🇿 бейімдеу

🇬🇪 მორგება (morġeba)

🇦🇿 uyğunlaşma

🇲🇽 ajuste

Etymology

The word 'adjustment' originated from the late Middle English period, derived from Old French 'ajustement', based on the verb 'adjuster'. It first appeared in the 17th century and has been commonly used in various contexts ever since.

See also: adjust, adjustability, adjustable, adjustably, adjusted, adjuster, adjusting, adjustments, disadjustment, maladjustment, misadjustment, readjust, unadjusted.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,473, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.