transformative

American  

[trans-fawr-muh-tiv] / trænsˈfɔr mə tɪv /

adjective

1. causing a radical and typically positive change in outlook, character, form, or condition: Voting is a culturally and socially transformative action.

   It's difficult to put into words how transformative and enriching it is to study abroad.

   Voting is a culturally and socially transformative action.

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Other Word Forms

• untransformative
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of transformative

First recorded in 1660–70; from Medieval Latin transformātīvus, equivalent to Latin transformāt-, stem of transformāre, + -īvus -ive ( def. ); see transform ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

transformative

She says holidaying in Bulgaria has been transformative - enough that she has decided to leave the UK.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

“GLP-1s could be transformative to people leading full lives again beyond their eating disorder,” said Jessica Scheer, NEDA’s chief executive.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

But these views deserve no weight in interpreting the amendments’ transformative guarantees.

From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2026

Rocket Lab called the acquisition “one of the most transformative deals in the space industry.”

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

In two transformative decades between 1920 and 1940, the first two of these questions—i.e., variation and evolution—would be solved by unique alliances between geneticists, anatomists, cell biologists, statisticians, and mathematicians.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• life-changing
• transformational