reformism

noun

re·​form·​ism ri-ˈfȯr-ˌmi-zəm How to pronounce reformism (audio)
: a doctrine, policy, or movement of reform
reformist noun or adjective

Examples of reformism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In the 2000s, Mr. Erdogan’s blend of Islamism and reformism had Turkey knocking at the door of the European Union. Jason Farago, New York Times, 25 May 2023 The story seeks to spin a failure of reformism into a myth of incremental accountability—a myth that the police are interested in policing themselves. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2023 In other words Islamic reformism, radicalism, etc., are to some extent endogenous to Muslim societies, and probably an inevitable outcome of modernity, West or no West. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 12 Aug. 2012 As a National Party loyalist De Klerk continued on Botha’s path of apartheid reformism, including through talks. Christi Van Der Westhuizen, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2021 All the polite, incremental reformism—of sensitivity trainings, tweaks to use-of-force rules, and appeals to better nature—was revealed as hollow in the face of the protesters’ justified fury, of their courage, of their pride. Molly Crabapple, The New York Review of Books, 9 June 2020 Yet there are scars left behind by Mr. Macron’s relentless reformism, in a country which, if not content, had achieved an egalitarianism solid enough to shield it from the crude populism and demagogy that has overtaken its Western allies. Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2020 With the urban riots of 1967—New Haven had some, though not the worst—the old political machine, briefly stayed by Lee’s reformism, reawakened. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2019 Now, Morocco and Jordan have toned down reformism and presented a new bottom line to their societies and the world: Ruling monarchism is here to stay. Sean Yom, Washington Post, 16 May 2017

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

Word History

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reformism was in 1904

Dictionary Entries Near reformism

Cite this Entry

“Reformism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reformism. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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