reformer

[ri-fawr-mer]

noun

1. a person devoted to bringing about significant change in attitudes and practices, such as in politics or society generally or within a particular organization.

2. Church History.,  Reformer, any of the leaders of the Reformation.

Other Word Forms

• antireformer noun
• counterreformer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reformer¹

First recorded in 1520–30; reform + -er ¹

Example Sentences

During that time, her role evolved from one-on-one advocate to legislative reformer, from shielding individual survivors from an aloof and demoralizing system to changing that system itself.

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“They have a president who is a reformer or a board that has really indicated they are committed to a higher-quality education,” she said.

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Social reformers saw only crowding and squalor, but black wealth was accruing through the ownership of property.

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Some reformers have credited Sheinbaum with confronting corruption, while others say she has been too cautious, too hesitant, to take on a problem deeply entrenched in Mexican politics.

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Mr Pikalo sees himself as a reformer within his department, and wants Ukraine to focus more on rehabilitation, instead of punishment, when it comes to criminals.

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Related Words

• agitator 
• anarchist 
• extremist 
• fanatic 
• firebrand 
• insurgent 
• leftist 
• militant 
• progressive 
• rebel 
• renegade 
• revolutionary 
• rioter www.thesaurus.com
• subversive