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

The Biggs amendment would have permanently stopped deficit spending by limiting federal expenditures to the average annual revenue collected over the previous three years. —Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 18 Mar. 2026

Inventor Michael Smith, for example, has created a closed-loop system called the Earth Power Lodge that uses solar energy to turn wood chips into biochar, a carbon-rich soil amendment that can has proven to regenerate depleted soils. —Matt Alderton, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026

Lawmakers pared back the idea through the amendment process in February, citing concerns that the original language would swell state spending, box out private pest control companies and create an unfunded mandate to counties, which historically handle pests that threaten farms and infrastructure. —Mark Dee march 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026

Uthmeier’s political committee, Keep Florida Clean, was intent on defeating the recreational marijuana amendment on the 2024 ballot — a key political priority for DeSantis that election. —Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026

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