reform

1 of 4

verb (1)

re·​form ri-ˈfȯrm How to pronounce reform (audio)
reformed; reforming; reforms

transitive verb

1
a
: to put or change into an improved form or condition
b
: to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses
2
: to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action
3
: to induce or cause to abandon evil ways
reform a drunkard
4
a
: to subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking
b
: to produce (gasoline, gas, etc.) by cracking

intransitive verb

: to become changed for the better
reformability noun
reformable adjective

reform

2 of 4

noun

1
: amendment of what is defective, vicious, corrupt, or depraved
2
: removal or correction of errors or of an abuse or a wrong
3
capitalized : reform judaism

reform

3 of 4

adjective

1
: relating to or favoring reform
All of the great American reform movements—from civil rights to child-labor laws—started far from Washington, D.C. In state legislatures and town halls …William Greider
2
Reform : of, relating to, or practicing Reform Judaism
Reform Jews, by the end of the nineteenth century, had adopted the custom of rising to their feet to pronounce the Shema in unison.Jonathan D. Sarna

re-form

4 of 4

verb (2)

re-formed; re-forming; re-forms

transitive verb

: to form again

intransitive verb

: to take form again
the ice re-formed on the lake
re-formation noun
Choose the Right Synonym for reform

correct, rectify, emend, remedy, redress, amend, reform, revise mean to make right what is wrong.

correct implies taking action to remove errors, faults, deviations, defects.

correct your spelling

rectify implies a more essential changing to make something right, just, or properly controlled or directed.

rectify a misguided policy

emend specifically implies correction of a text or manuscript.

emend a text

remedy implies removing or making harmless a cause of trouble, harm, or evil.

set out to remedy the evils of the world

redress implies making compensation or reparation for an unfairness, injustice, or imbalance.

redress past social injustices

amend, reform, revise imply an improving by making corrective changes, amend usually suggesting slight changes

amend a law

, reform implying drastic change

plans to reform the court system

, and revise suggesting a careful examination of something and the making of necessary changes.

revise the schedule

Examples of reform in a Sentence

Verb (1) The program is designed to reform prisoners. They want to reform campaign spending. The laws need to be reformed. The program is designed to help former gang members who are trying to reform. Noun A group of senators are calling for reform of the nation's health-care system. He has proposed a list of political reforms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Under intense pressure to reform following COVID, the NCAA changed policy and allowed first-time transfers to be eligible immediately at their new schools. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 The most recent commission has been working since 2022 to come up with suggestions to reform the city’s tax system, which were expected to be delivered to city leaders in time for this year’s budget deliberations. Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The proposition is touted as the final piece in Newsom’s plan to reform California’s mental health system. Trân Nguyễn, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 The Gulf Nation moved to reform its labor system on paper, but the reality on the ground remains stark as Amos’s story and that of countless other migrant workers illustrate. Samindra Kunti, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Aaron’s Law — a bill to reform the CFAA — was proposed in the wake of his suicide but stalled in Congress. Sarah Jeong, The Verge, 23 Feb. 2024 But Congress has thus far failed to reform Medigap plans, and CMS continues to train its fire on MA. Avik Roy, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Since then, Snow has issued two more orders with additional mandates to reform the Sheriff's Office to weed out racial profiling, although ongoing traffic stop surveys have continued to show racial disparities. The Arizona Republic, 28 Feb. 2024 On Monday, the Palestinian Authority’s prime minister presented the resignation of the beleaguered entity’s entire government, as the United States and other governments look to it to reform and pick up the slack after the fighting eventually stops. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
Then, in February 1991, Menem switched Domingo Cavallo from being minister of foreign affairs to minister of economy, and in April 1991, the peso was linked to the dollar in a currency reform called Convertibility. Steve H. Hanke, National Review, 14 Mar. 2024 The presidents in the other major conferences rejected the reforms. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 Captains of capital were still outraged and launched a war to roll back New Deal reforms, arguably up until the present day. Chloe Berger, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 Supporters of reforms have said the state should continue to put money into programs that advance public safety without perpetuating mass incarceration. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Along with being a state representative, Johnson is also a former special education teacher who has spoken out in favor of gun reform, reproductive rights, and racial equality. Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 Voters also want reforms in other state institutions, including education, health care, and the social security system. Foreign Affairs, 12 Mar. 2024 Former President Mohammad Khatami, the founder of the reform movement, surprised the public by not voting. Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Dolan's opponents have attacked him for voting against Ohio's ban on most abortions and supporting certain gun reforms. Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024
Adjective
In a letter, 140 ophthalmologists raised concerns about a rising number of patients with severe eye injuries resulting from being shot with metal pellets and rubber bullets, according to pro-reform Iranian news site Sobhema and Iran International as well as other sites on social media. Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2022 Three of the seven candidates in Iran’s presidential election dropped out days before the June 18 vote, leaving just one pro-reform contender and helping hardline frontrunner Ebrahim Raisi consolidate his support. Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg.com, 16 June 2021 Farhad Meysami was released from prison on Friday, according to the Iranian pro-reform outlet Shargh Daily. Jonny Hallam, CNN, 10 Feb. 2023 According to the Associated Press, Akbari served as deputy defense minister under President Mohammad Khatami — a pro-reform cleric who came to power in 1997 — until 2001. Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2023 Iran’s parliament and judiciary are reviewing the country’s mandatory hijab law, Attorney General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri told a pro-reform outlet. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 5 Dec. 2022 In a video obtained by CNN via the pro-reform activist outlet Iran Wire, two uniformed officers can be seen in what appears to be an attempt to arrest a protester. Niamh Kennedy, CNN, 30 Oct. 2022 Sources inside the prison told pro-reform outlet IranWire that guards fired tear gas all night after the fire broke out. Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN, 17 Oct. 2022
Verb
This also gives the two of them the space to Talk It Out, re-forming the Warder bond Moiraine broke at the beginning of the season (still fuzzy on the mechanics of that) and rededicating themselves to the support of the Dragon Reborn. Andrew Cunningham & Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 6 Oct. 2023 The structure in bread dough comes from gluten, which forms when the proteins in flour mix with water and break apart, then re-form in a strong network. Genevieve Ko, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2023 These materials can then be melted and remade again and again because the cross-linkers can break and re-form their bonds. Susan Cosier, Scientific American, 9 Sep. 2023 Sixty-odd years ago, Oregon was part of another conference realignment when the Pacific Coast Conference — a precursor of the Pac-12 — dissolved and re-formed without Oregon or Oregon State. Ken Goe For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 2 Sep. 2023 In the Bellingshausen Sea, the home of the penguin colonies in this study, sea ice didn’t start to re-form until late April 2023. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023 The mass exodus on Pitch-Black Friday left a quartet of schools and one gigantic question behind: Will Stanford and Cal link arms with Oregon State and Washington State to re-form the Pac-12 through possible raids of the Mountain West and American conferences? Jon Wilner | , oregonlive, 11 Aug. 2023 The water streaming down from the Sierra Nevada has inundated vast farmlands in the southern San Joaquin Valley, re-forming Tulare Lake, which according to state officials now covers more than 113,000 acres, an area nearly as large as Lake Tahoe. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2023 Added proteins help re-form the hair structure with temporary strength and elasticity, and amino acids and peptides help to add moisture and hydration to the hair. Jacqueline Saguin, goodhousekeeping.com, 26 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reform.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French refurmer, from Latin reformare, from re- + formare to form, from forma form

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of reform was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near reform

Cite this Entry

“Reform.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reform. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reform

1 of 3 verb
re·​form ri-ˈfȯ(ə)rm How to pronounce reform (audio)
1
: to make better by removal of faults
reform a prisoner
2
: to correct or improve one's own behavior or habits
reformable adjective

reform

2 of 3 noun
1
: improvement in what is bad
2
: a removal or correction of an abuse, a wrong, or errors

re-form

3 of 3 verb
(ˈ)rē-ˈfȯ(ə)rm
: to form again
the ice re-formed on the lake

Legal Definition

reform

transitive verb
re·​form ri-ˈfȯrm How to pronounce reform (audio)
1
: to put (a writing) into a corrected form that more accurately reflects the agreement of the parties
allows a writing signed by mistake to be reformedW. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
compare ratify
2
: to induce or cause to abandon wrongful or harmful ways
a reformed drug dealer

intransitive verb

: to become changed for the better

More from Merriam-Webster on reform

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!