reform

[ ri-fawrm ]

/ rɪˈfɔrm /

noun

the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.: social reform; spelling reform.

an instance of this.

the amendment of conduct, belief, etc.

verb (used with object)

to change to a better state, form, etc.; improve by alteration, substitution, abolition, etc.

to cause (a person) to abandon wrong or evil ways of life or conduct.

to put an end to (abuses, disorders, etc.).

Chemistry. to subject to the process of reforming, as in refining petroleum.

verb (used without object)

to abandon evil conduct or error: The drunkard promised to reform.

adjective

(initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of Reform Jews or Reform Judaism: a Reform rabbi.

Nearby words

reflux, reflux esophagitis, reflux oesophagitis, reflux otitis media, reforest, reform, reform bill, reform flask, reform jew, reform judaism, reform school

Origin of reform

1300–50; (v.) Middle English reformen < Middle French reformer, Old French < Latin refōrmāre (see re-, form); (noun) partly derivative of the v., partly < French réforme

SYNONYMS FOR reform

1 correction, reformation, betterment, amelioration.

4 better, rectify, correct, amend, emend, ameliorate, repair, restore.

ANTONYMS FOR reform

1 deterioration.

Related forms

re·form·a·ble, adjectivere·form·a·bil·i·ty, re·form·a·ble·ness, nounre·form·a·tive, adjectivere·form·a·tive·ly, adverb

re·form·a·tive·ness, nounre·form·ing·ly, adverban·ti·re·form, adjectivemis·re·form, verbpre·re·form, adjectivepro·re·form, adjectiveself-re·form, nounsu·per·re·form, noun, verb (used with object)un·re·form·a·ble, adjectiveun·re·form·a·tive, adjective

Can be confused

re-form reform

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for proreform (1 of 2)

proreform

/ (ˌprəʊrɪˈfɔːm) /

adjective

in favour of or supporting reform, esp within politics

British Dictionary definitions for proreform (2 of 2)

reform

/ (rɪˈfɔːm) /

verb

(tr) to improve (an existing institution, law, practice, etc) by alteration or correction of abuses

to give up or cause to give up a reprehensible habit or immoral way of life

chem to change the molecular structure of (a hydrocarbon) to make it suitable for use as petrol by heat, pressure, and the action of catalysts

noun

an improvement or change for the better, esp as a result of correction of legal or political abuses or malpractices

a principle, campaign, or measure aimed at achieving such change

improvement of morals or behaviour, esp by giving up some vice

Derived Forms

reformable, adjectivereformative, adjectivereformer, noun

Word Origin for reform

C14: via Old French from Latin reformāre to form again

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012