renovation

American  

[ren-uh-vay-shuhn] / ˌrɛn əˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

• renovations
  plural

1. the act or process of repairing, renewing, or restoring to good condition.

   The project will include interior and exterior renovation and rehabilitation to upgrade the school’s infrastructure.

2. the act of reinvigorating or reviving.

   The transition to organic growing will require an investment of labor and capital to complete the orchard renovation, install new plantings, and build economic viability.

3. Usually renovations something that has been repaired or restored to a better condition, or the work done to repair or restore something.

   Renovations to the theater include new doors and windows, a new lighting system, and a refurbished floor for the stage.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• renovations
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of renovation

First recorded in 1400–50, for an earlier sense; from Latin renovātiōn-, stem of renovātiō “renewal”; see renovate ( def. ), -ion ( def. )

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Compare meaning

How does renovation compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• renovation vs. remodel

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Explanation

Renovation is the act of renewing or restoring something. If your kitchen is undergoing a renovation, there’s probably plaster and paint all over the place and you should probably get take-out. The roots of renovation refer to newness and doing something again — it’s from the Latin re- for "again" and novare which means, "make new.” A rundown building is in need of renovation, or a website that's being redesigned is under renovation. After renovation, things look new and improved. Before the word underwent renovation, in the early 15th century, renovacyoun meant "spiritual rebirth,” which is how you might feel after your kitchen is redone.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

renovation renovations

The renovation brought a contemporary aesthetic to the home, emphasizing natural light, open living spaces, and a seamless connection to the surrounding greenery.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

“This is not a renovation, your honor,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

Philbin oversaw a two-decade,$90-million renovation by Michael Maltzan Architecture that increased gallery space by 60% and added an outdoor sculpture terrace.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

But a government watchdog recently cleared Powell of criminal wrongdoing in a costly Fed renovation project, and US Attorney General Todd Blanche said he would not reopen an investigation.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026

Worse, Ernest decided that he should manage the renovation work personally.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

After initially concentrating on small-scale renovations, DIY SOS shifted focus to tackle a number of more ambitious projects throughout its multiple-decade run.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Palisades Village reopened in August after more than $100 million in renovations, including major infrastructure work.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

Keaton purchased the home for $6.6 million in 2021, offloading it just a year later for $7.9 million after finishing renovations.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

The judge’s decision comes ahead of a planned meeting in which the center’s board is expected to vote on a new resolution to immediately close the center’s main building for two years for renovations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

And no sooner than Duane would reply with a “That sounds like quite a high jump indeed,” Magic would have moved on to the topic of home renovations for a fox hole.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

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Related Words

• improvement
• renewal
• repair
• restoration
• upgrade

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