definitions

reformation

[ ref-er-mey-shuhn ]
/ ˌrɛf ərˈmeɪ ʃən /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR reformation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of reforming; state of being reformed.
(initial capital letter) the religious movement in the 16th century that had for its object the reform of the Roman Catholic Church, and that led to the establishment of the Protestant churches.

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RELATED WORDS

transformation, renewal, reorganization, realignment, rebirth, abolition, amendment, reform, correction, alteration, improvement, reconstruction, rehabilitation, rearrangement, renovation, change, restoration, recovery, repeal, reawakening

Nearby words

reform flask, reform jew, reform judaism, reform school, reformate, reformation, reformatory, reformed, reformed church in america, reformed spelling, reformer

Origin of reformation

1375–1425; late Middle English reformacion < Latin refōrmātiōn- (stem of refōrmātiō), equivalent to refōrmāt(us) (past participle of refōrmāre to reform) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms

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

Examples from the Web for reformation

British Dictionary definitions for reformation (1 of 2)

reformation

/ (ˌrɛfəˈmeɪʃən) /

noun

the act or an instance of reforming or the state of being reformed

Derived Forms

reformational, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for reformation (2 of 2)

Reformation

/ (ˌrɛfəˈmeɪʃən) /

noun

a religious and political movement of 16th-century Europe that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the establishment of the Protestant Churches
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

Culture definitions for reformation

Reformation

A religious movement in the sixteenth century that began as an attempted reform of the Roman Catholic Church but resulted in the founding of Protestant churches separate from it. Some of the leaders of the Reformation were Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox. The Reformation was established in England after King Henry VIII declared himself head of the Christian Church in that country.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.