renovation

American  

[ren-uh-vey-shuhn] / ˌrɛn əˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

renovations plural

1. the act or process of repairing, renewing, or restoring to good condition.

   The project will include interior and exterior renovation and rehabilitation to upgrade the school’s infrastructure.

2. the act of reinvigorating or reviving.

   The transition to organic growing will require an investment of labor and capital to complete the orchard renovation, install new plantings, and build economic viability.

3. Usually renovations something that has been repaired or restored to a better condition, or the work done to repair or restore something.

   Renovations to the theater include new doors and windows, a new lighting system, and a refurbished floor for the stage.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• renovations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of renovation

First recorded in 1400–50, for an earlier sense; from Latin renovātiōn-, stem of renovātiō “renewal”; see renovate ( def. ), -ion ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does renovation compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• renovation vs. remodel

Explanation

Renovation is the act of renewing or restoring something. If your kitchen is undergoing a renovation, there’s probably plaster and paint all over the place and you should probably get take-out. The roots of renovation refer to newness and doing something again — it’s from the Latin re- for "again" and novare which means, "make new.” A rundown building is in need of renovation, or a website that's being redesigned is under renovation. After renovation, things look new and improved. Before the word underwent renovation, in the early 15th century, renovacyoun meant "spiritual rebirth,” which is how you might feel after your kitchen is redone.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

renovation renovations

A local preservation group has sued to block the renovation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

"And this renovation will not prevent a single neo-Nazi from making the pilgrimage to Braunau."

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

After a year-long renovation, the Denair, Calif., home has a huge kitchen with space for the commercial meat slicer that Victor uses to cut a leg of prosciutto at family events.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Since Jordan Spieth's victory in 2017, Birkdale has undergone a renovation, with the changes including redesigns on the fifth, seventh, 14th and 15th holes.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

The renovation provided an opportunity to add a new feature to the White House—an atomic bomb shelter.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

If your father disagrees with renovations, who gets the final say?

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

On its return to France in late 2027, the tapestry will be reinstalled at its museum in Bayeux, which is currently closed for renovations, before undergoing a delicate and long-delayed restoration.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

The luxury shopping center in Pacific Palisades will reopen next month after more than $100 million in renovations forced by the January 2025 wildfire that devastated the Los Angeles neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

A former US Olympian has been charged with vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after authorities say he was seen reaching into the water after renovations to the pool.

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026

The Abnegation volunteer agency my mother works for is responsible for most of those renovations.

From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth

Related Words

• improvement
• renewal
• repair
• restoration
• upgrade