amendment

noun

amend·ment | \ ə-ˈmen(d)-mənt

Definition of amendment

1a : 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

Synonyms What is a constitutional amendment? More Example Sentences Learn More about amendment

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Synonyms for amendment

Synonyms

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.

Examples of amendment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The legislature will also consider an amendment to legislation that would phase out two coal subsidy programs. — Tyler Arnold, Washington Examiner, "Virginia legislature reconvenes to address budget, marijuana, guns," 7 Apr. 2021 City Council heard the first reading Monday (April 5) of an amendment to the city’s code governing rental homes. — cleveland, "University Heights Council enthusiastic about proposed changes to home rental code," 6 Apr. 2021 With Iowa's legislative session coming to a close in three weeks, Rep. Ann Meyer re-introduced the law as an amendment to another bill, enabling it to be back up for debate. — Sean Neumann, PEOPLE.com, "Some Iowa Doctors Are Requiring Women to Get Spousal Approval for a Hysterectomy," 6 Apr. 2021 Pfizer and BioNTech plan to request from the Food and Drug Administration an amendment to the emergency use authorization for their vaccine, in hopes of beginning immunizations of older children before the start of the next school year. — New York Times, "The Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Is Said to Be Powerfully Protective in Adolescents," 31 Mar. 2021 Through an amendment to the Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, the Himalayan state has created avenues for women to become co-owners of land owned first by a father or husband. — Lindsey Mcginnis, The Christian Science Monitor, "Coral reefs in Fiji rebound at unexpected pace," 31 Mar. 2021 An amendment to House Bill 2433 proposed Monday would wipe out the entire Oregon tax obligation created by the stimulus payments. — oregonlive, "Oregon lawmakers explore wiping out stimulus tax penalty – but payments could take months," 30 Mar. 2021 Another amendment to the bill adds language that says state lawmakers have no intention of stripping collective bargaining rights from Baltimore police officers in the process. — Bryn Stole, baltimoresun.com, "Bill to ask Baltimore voters to decide local control of city police department advances in Maryland legislature," 29 Mar. 2021 So unless or until there is any sort of amendment to the Constitution that changes gun ownership, these little legislation changes that take, first of all, forever to pass, feel like pennies being dropped in the ocean. — NBC News, "Meet the Press - March 28, 2021," 28 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'amendment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

12 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Amendment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amendment. Accessed 20 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for amendment

amendment

noun

amend·ment | \ ə-ˈmend-mənt

Kids Definition of amendment

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

amendment

noun

amend·ment

Legal Definition of amendment

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

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