reformer

[ri-fawr-mer]

noun

1. a person devoted to bringing about significant change in attitudes and practices, such as in politics or society generally or within a particular organization.

2. Church History.,  Reformer, any of the leaders of the Reformation.

Other Word Forms

• antireformer noun
• counterreformer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reformer¹

First recorded in 1520–30; reform + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The proposed solutions offered by socialist reformers remain familiar as well.

Read more on Salon

The result is a record of one reformer measuring another, capturing the frustration and admiration that shaped their extraordinary partnership.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Macron does deserve his reputation as a reformer, when graded on the French scale.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

During that time, her role evolved from one-on-one advocate to legislative reformer, from shielding individual survivors from an aloof and demoralizing system to changing that system itself.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“They have a president who is a reformer or a board that has really indicated they are committed to a higher-quality education,” she said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• agitator 
• anarchist 
• extremist 
• fanatic 
• firebrand 
• insurgent 
• leftist 
• militant 
• progressive 
• rebel 
• renegade 
• revolutionary 
• rioter www.thesaurus.com
• subversive