amendment

noun

amend·​ment ə-ˈmen(d)-mənt 

1

a

: the process of altering or amending a law or document (such as a constitution) by parliamentary or constitutional procedure

rights that were granted by amendment of the Constitution

b

: an alteration proposed or effected by this process

a constitutional amendment

2

: the act of amending something : correction

3

: a material (such as compost or sand) that aids plant growth indirectly by improving the condition of the soil

soil amendments

Did you know?

What is a constitutional amendment?

An amendment is essentially a correction. It comes in many varieties, up to and including the process of altering something through either parliamentary or constitutional procedure. In the United States, the word is often used specifically of a change to the U.S. Constitution. A constitutional amendment may be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives or through a constitutional convention with majority votes in two-thirds of state legislatures. Once it is ratified by Congress, it must be approved by three-fourths (i.e., 38 of 50) of the states.

Synonyms of amendment

• modification
• alteration
• correction

Examples of amendment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While acknowledging that abolishing the taxes in Florida would require a constitutional amendment backed by 60 percent of the voters, DeSantis said in March that Floridians needed relief even before that could be achieved. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Republicans voted to table an amendment that would add private schools to the bill. —Kayla Huynh, jsonline.com, 21 Nov. 2025

Corpus was dismissed from her position for alleged acts of misconduct following an unprecedented hearing made possible by voters passing a charter amendment allowing the Board of Supervisors to remove a sitting sheriff for cause. —Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025

In April 2006, a package of constitutional amendments designed to streamline Dayton by strengthening central state institutions fell two votes short in the state Parliament. —Adis Maksić, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see amend

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for amendment

• intendment

Kids Definition

amendment

noun

amend·​ment ə-ˈmen(d)-mənt 

1

: the act or process of amending especially for the better

2

: a change in wording or meaning especially in a law, bill, or motion

Legal Definition

amendment

noun

amend·​ment

1

: an act of amending

especially : an alteration in wording

amendments to cure the defect in the pleading

2

: an alteration proposed or put into effect by parliamentary or constitutional procedure

the Congress…shall propose amendments to this Constitution

—U.S. Constitution art. V