transformative

American  

[trans-fawr-muh-tiv] / trænsˈfɔr mə tɪv /

adjective

1. causing a radical and typically positive change in outlook, character, form, or condition: Voting is a culturally and socially transformative action.

   It's difficult to put into words how transformative and enriching it is to study abroad.

   Voting is a culturally and socially transformative action.

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Other Word Forms

• untransformative
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of transformative

First recorded in 1660–70; from Medieval Latin transformātīvus, equivalent to Latin transformāt-, stem of transformāre, + -īvus -ive ( def. ); see transform ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

transformative

“The use of the books at issue to train Claude and its precursors was exceedingly transformative and was a fair use,” Alsup noted in his earlier judgment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

She says holidaying in Bulgaria has been transformative - enough that she has decided to leave the UK.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

But these views deserve no weight in interpreting the amendments’ transformative guarantees.

From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2026

He cites one layman’s description of the transformative experience: “I can dive in with a long face and what feels like a terminal case of depression, and come out a whistling idiot.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

My fresh love of reading brought me to the transformative writers who have worked their magic on generations of readers.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore

Related Words

• life-changing
• transformational