What does repair mean?
Repair means to mend, restore, or make something sound and usable again. The word is especially common for objects and structures that are damaged, broken, or worn, such as a road, appliance, building, or vehicle, but it can also describe correcting faults in a system or making good an injury, loss, or other damage. As a noun, repair refers both to the process of restoring something and to the condition of being repaired or in working order. Phrases such as “beyond repair,” “under repair,” and “repair the damage” are established usages. The word can imply a more complete restoration than a temporary patch, although the distinction depends on context. Repair is common in both British and American English and works in formal and informal registers.
To restore something damaged, broken, or deteriorated to a sound or usable condition; to mend or fix.
"A local workshop repaired the old clock and restored its original face."
Also used figuratively for correcting a problem or remedying a fault or deficiency.
The act of restoring or mending something, or the condition of being in working order.
"The bridge was closed for repair until the following spring."
Common in expressions such as “beyond repair” and “under repair.”
Use the plural for separate acts of fixing or restoring something, or for the work performed: “The repairs will take several weeks.”
"The repairs to the roof included replacing several damaged tiles."
From the Latin reparare, repair literally means to prepare again—and that idea of making something ready for use survives in every modern repair.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does repair come from?
The word comes through Old French reparer from Latin reparare, a compound of re- and parare, meaning to prepare. Latin reparare developed the senses of restoring, mending, and making good what had been damaged. Its descendants include English words such as reparation, reparable, and irreparable.
Related word forms
How repair is actually used
Repair is suitable in formal, professional, and everyday contexts. It often implies restoring something to a functioning or sound condition, although it can also be used more broadly to mean correcting a problem or making good a loss.
Easily confused with repair
Repair means to mend or restore something, whereas repay means to return money or something of value that is owed.
Repair refers to fixing or restoring an object, whereas repeal means to formally cancel a law or ruling.