adjustment

Adjustment is the act or process of changing something to fit a requirement, condition, or standard. As a verb, adjust means to alter or align; as a noun, adjustment can refer to the resulting change or to the act of adjusting itself. The term comes from Old French ajuster, from Latin adiustare, meaning to fit or correct.

In mechanical and technical contexts, adjustment refers to modifying a device or system to achieve proper operation or measurement. This includes tuning a musical instrument, calibrating a scale, aligning components, or setting tolerances so that equipment functions as intended.

In measurement and data processing, adjustments calibrate readings to account for known biases or errors. Examples include offset corrections, gain adjustments, baseline normalization, and correcting for systematic drift to ensure that results reflect true values as closely as possible.

In finance and accounting, adjustments modify figures in records or calculations. They appear in processes such as reconciling accounts, applying depreciation or impairments, or revising estimates to reflect new information, thereby presenting a more accurate financial position.

In psychology and social science, adjustment describes how individuals adapt to new environments, roles, or life changes. It encompasses coping strategies, behavioral changes, and the development of functioning and well-being in response to shifting circumstances.

Across domains, adjustments address alignment, correction, or adaptation, spanning physical systems, data integrity, economic records, and human behavior. The concept emphasizes bringing diversity of conditions into workable coherence.