hypercorrect

Alternative forms

• hyper-correct

Etymology

Back-formation from hypercorrection.

Adjective

hypercorrect (comparative more hypercorrect, superlative most hypercorrect)

1. (grammar) incorrect because of a mistaken idea of standard usage

Verb

hypercorrect (third-person singular simple present hypercorrects, present participle hypercorrecting, simple past and past participle hypercorrected)

1. (transitive) To change (a word or phrase) to an incorrect form in the mistaken belief that it is standard usage.
   • 2007 October 28, William Safire, “And Now This”, in New York Times‎:

     I use reduplicate to mean redouble, though both words should mean quadruple, but English is funny that way, so hold off on the hypercorrecting gotcha!