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

• correction
• emendation

Examples of amendment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

House lawmakers Friday approved amendments to House Bill 96, which allows government entities to display only certain flags, such as the official Idaho, U.S. and state flags. —Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2025

That limits debate and only gives opponents until April 2 to submit amendments. —Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Following intense negotiations with the U.S., in October 2023 the Treasury granted Trinidad an amendment to a license allowing the joint development of the Dragon offshore gas field, allowing Trinidad to pay Venezuela in hard currency or in kind. —Panorama Media Ltd., Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025

During Monday’s Village Board meeting, the board approved an amendment to the redevelopment to address a 45% increase in the project’s budget, rising from $61 million to $89 million. —Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 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