Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of reformist
Explanation
In politics, someone who believes that a government or economy should be improved through gradual changes is a reformist. Reformists tend to focus on working within existing systems and pushing through small changes over time, even if they believe those systems need major repair and reform. In politics, they are often compared with revolutionaries, who advocate for completely overhauling broken governments or societies and replacing them with something new. The Latin root of reformist is reformare, "to form again."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His recent successors failed to learn the lessons of the great reformist mayoralty of the 1990s.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and later became a reformist politician pushing for environmental protections and women’s rights.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
The reformist People's Party -- which had been polling first ahead of the election, but ultimately came in second -- will lead the opposition.
From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026
In 2003 he was released by the reformist president Mohammad Khatami, who had received pressure from parliamentarians to do so.
From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026
While we were not yet ready to announce such a suspension, we wanted to provide Mr. de Klerk with enough encouragement to pursue his reformist strategies.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
