melioration

American  

[meel-yuh-rey-shuhn, mee-lee-uh-] / ˌmil yəˈreɪ ʃən, ˌmi li ə- /

noun

1. Historical Linguistics. semantic change in a word to a more approved or more respectable meaning.

2. amelioration.

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melioration British  

/ ˌmiːlɪəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of improving or the state of being improved

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Etymology

Origin of melioration

1620–30; < Late Latin meliōrātiōn- (stem of meliōrātiō ), equivalent to meliōrāt ( us ) ( meliorate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

But professional reformation or melioration is usually an organic, incremental process.

From BusinessWeek • Nov. 22, 2011

It must be shown that it is right, though imperfect,—that it is not only by possibility susceptible of improvement, but that it contains in it a principle tending to its melioration.

From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 04 (of 12) by Burke, Edmund

The present constitution of the Union was formed at a later period than those of the majority of the states, and it may have derived some melioration from past experience.

From American Institutions and Their Influence by Tocqueville, Alexis de

"The condition of mankind is in a state of melioration, as far as misery arises from ignorance, for as the world grows older it must grow wiser, if wisdom arises from experience."

From Answer to Dr. Priestley's Letters to a Philosophical Unbeliever by Turner, Matthew

Prior to the agitation of this subject of abolition, there was a progressive melioration in the condition of the slaves—schools of instruction were opened by humane and religious persons.

From The Journal of Negro History, Volume 3, 1918 by Various