reform

[ ri-fawrm ]

/ rɪˈfɔrm /

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See synonyms for: reform / re-formed / re-forming / re-forms on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR reform

1 correction, reformation, betterment, amelioration.

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

See synonyms for reform on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR reform

1 deterioration.

See antonyms for reform on Thesaurus.com

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

OTHER WORDS FROM reform

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reform

re-form, reform

Other definitions for reform (2 of 2)

re-form

[ ree-fawrm ]

/ riˈfɔrm /

verb (used with or without object)

to form again.

Origin of re-form

1300–50; Middle English; originally identical with reform

OTHER WORDS FROM re-form

re-for·ma·tion, nounre-former, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH re-form

re-form , reform

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use reform in a sentence

A Wall Street person should not be allowed to help oversee the Dodd-Frank reforms.
Antonio Weiss Is Not Part of the Problem|Steve Rattner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Indeed, as an almost purely advisory firm, Lazard is (appropriately) barely affected by the Dodd-Frank reforms.
Antonio Weiss Is Not Part of the Problem|Steve Rattner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Cairo should have listened to Amal Clooney last year when she recommended judicial reforms.
Amal Clooney vs. Egypt’s Courts|Christopher Dickey|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
These injustices need to be confronted and bipartisan reforms like body cameras on cops enacted.
Bill de Blasio’s Tea Party Problem|Will Cain|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Democrats split over moves to weaken Wall Street reforms, and Republicans pouted over lost leverage.
‘Cromnibus’ Passes, But Did Anyone Win?|Ben Jacobs|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Clearly his business abilities were great; his reforms were bold and drastic, and success attended his efforts.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
It was resigned to the Spanish governmental system of spoliation, and no one thought of reforms.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
They conversed upon literary projects, upon political reforms, upon speculations in philosophy and science.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
He used forceful language to arouse interest in reforms in which only a minority of the Virginians believed at the time.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
The English Liberals are men who are convinced that things are not perfect, and who admit the possibility of reforms.
Friend Mac Donald|Max O'Rell

British Dictionary definitions for reform (1 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 of reform

reformable, adjectivereformative, adjectivereformer, noun

Word Origin for reform

C14: via Old French from Latin reformāre to form again

British Dictionary definitions for reform (2 of 2)

re-form

/ (riːˈfɔːm) /

verb

to form anew

Derived forms of re-form

re-formation, noun

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

reform

OTHER WORDS FOR reform

OPPOSITES FOR reform

Origin of reform

OTHER WORDS FROM reform

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reform

Other definitions for reform (2 of 2)

Origin of re-form

OTHER WORDS FROM re-form

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH re-form

Words related to reform

How to use reform in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reform (1 of 2)

Derived forms of reform

Word Origin for reform

British Dictionary definitions for reform (2 of 2)

Derived forms of re-form