A new effect called ‘‘ac-current straightening’’ has been observed in ceramic (Bi,Pb)-2223 slabs carrying ac current Idc+Iac cos(ωt). The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the ceramic were measured at 77 K at frequencies ranging from 50 to 20 000 Hz. A spectrum analyzer showed a series of high harmonics in the voltage signal as well as a constant voltage drop. The full set of experimental data has been explained theoretically using the Bean–Kim critical state model with a magnetic field dependent critical current jc(H)=jc(0)/(1+H/H0). A low transport ac current gives a voltage linearly proportional to the frequency and quadratically proportional to the ac-current amplitude Iac. It consists of odd harmonics only. If a bias dc current is switched on, then even harmonics and a dc-voltage drop appear. Their amplitudes are proportional to the small parameter Iac/cH0 and depend on the Idc/Iac ratio.