reformulate

American  

[ree-fawr-myuh-leyt] / riˈfɔr myəˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

reformulated, reformulating

1. to formulate again.

2. to formulate in a different way; alter or revise.

   to reformulate our plans.

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reformulate British  

/ riːˈfɔːmjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to change or update (an idea, plan, etc, already formulated)

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Other Word Forms

• reformulation noun

Etymology

Origin of reformulate

First recorded in 1880–85; re- + formulate

Example Sentences

They are trying to reformulate their products by doing things like adding more protein and taking out artificial colors and sweeteners.

From Barron's • Oct. 16, 2025

Food companies are racing to switch up supply chains and reformulate products to meet the moment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025

“Manufacturers who use FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs will have until January 15, 2027, or January 18, 2028, respectively, to reformulate their products,” the FDA said in a statement.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2025

“But when they reformulate, they reformulate nationwide. It’s not like they’re going to make a product just for California. And so this state regulation is actually having a national impact.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 11, 2024

This approach led Heisenberg, Erwin Schrodinger, and Paul Dirac in the 1920s to reformulate mechanics into a new theory called quantum mechanics, based on the uncertainty principle.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking