reform

[ ri-fawrm ]

noun

1. the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.:

   social reform; spelling reform.

   Synonyms: amelioration, betterment, reformation, correction

   Antonyms: deterioration

2. an instance of this.
3. the amendment of conduct, belief, etc.

verb (used with object)

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

   Synonyms: restore, repair, ameliorate, emend, amend, correct, rectify, better

2. to cause (a person) to abandon wrong or evil ways of life or conduct.
3. to put an end to (abuses, disorders, etc.).
4. Chemistry. to subject to the process of reforming, as in refining petroleum.

verb (used without object)

1. to abandon evil conduct or error:

   The drunkard promised to reform.

adjective

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

   a Reform rabbi.

reform

/ rɪˈfɔːm /

verb

1. tr to improve (an existing institution, law, practice, etc) by alteration or correction of abuses
2. to give up or cause to give up a reprehensible habit or immoral way of life
3. 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

1. an improvement or change for the better, esp as a result of correction of legal or political abuses or malpractices
2. a principle, campaign, or measure aimed at achieving such change
3. improvement of morals or behaviour, esp by giving up some vice

Derived Forms

• reˈformable, adjective
• reˈformative, adjective
• reˈformer, noun

Other Word Forms

• re·forma·ble adjective
• re·forma·bili·ty re·forma·ble·ness noun
• re·forma·tive adjective
• re·forma·tive·ly adverb
• re·forma·tive·ness noun
• re·forming·ly adverb
• anti·re·form adjective
• misre·form verb
• prere·form adjective
• prore·form adjective
• self-re·form noun
• super·re·form noun verb (used with object)
• unre·forma·ble adjective
• unre·forma·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reform¹

First recorded in 1300–50; (for the verb) Middle English reformen, from Middle French reformer, Old French, from Latin refōrmāre; equivalent to re- + form; noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of reform¹

C14: via Old French from Latin reformāre to form again

Example Sentences

In a visit to Inner Mongolia in 1992, the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who oversaw China's economic reform, famously said: "The Middle East has oil and China has rare earths".

From BBC

Ever since EU countries saw an influx of irregular migrants in 2015-16, they have sought to reform asylum rules.

From BBC

There had been some speculation that a ruling like this could raise the prospect of ministers re-launching their attempts at gender reform at Holyrood.

From BBC

He called for a reform of the system so that it "prioritises public health and value for customer money and delivers healthy coastlines, rivers and lakes."

From BBC

The Scottish Parliament passed reforms in 2022 that would have made it easier for someone to change their legally recognised sex.

From BBC

Related Words

• amend
• improve
• rebuild
• rehabilitate
• remake
• renovate
• reorganize
• repair
• resolve
• restore
• revise
• revolutionize
• standardize
• transform