reclamation

noun

rec·​la·​ma·​tion ˌre-klə-ˈmā-shən 

: the act or process of reclaiming: such as

a

: reformation, rehabilitation

b

: restoration to use : recovery

Synonyms

• recapture
• recoupment
• recovery
• repossession
• retrieval

Examples of reclamation in a Sentence

pumped water out of the field as part of the land reclamation program designed to provide farmers with more farmland

Recent Examples on the Web

Chris Kreider, who is under contract for two more years and has a 15-team no-trade list, is more of a reclamation project after a down year in 2024-25. —Max Bultman, New York Times, 22 May 2025

Carter sees this moment at the Met as a culmination of those acts of reclamation. —Michel Martin, NPR, 5 May 2025

Certainly the Ultra 2025 performance was then a milestone moment in the Dutch producer’s reclamation of the track. —Katie Bain, Billboard, 29 Mar. 2025

Ever since his successful emergence as a minor-league reclamation project seven years ago, power had been his trademark. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

French réclamation, from Latin reclamation-, reclamatio, from reclamare

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reclamation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

reclamation

noun

rec·​la·​ma·​tion ˌrek-lə-ˈmā-shən 

: the act or process of reclaiming : the state of being reclaimed

Legal Definition

reclamation

noun

rec·​la·​ma·​tion ˌre-klə-ˈmā-shən 

1

: the act or process of reclaiming

the reclamation of goods delivered to an insolvent buyer

2

: a right to reclaim (as under commercial law)