reconstruction

noun

re·​con·​struc·​tion ˌrē-kən-ˈstrək-shən 

plural reconstructions

1

a

: the action of reconstructing : the act or process of rebuilding, repairing, or restoring something

reconstruction efforts to repair hurricane damage

the reconstruction of the dam

the reconstruction of postwar Europe

b

Reconstruction in U.S. history : the period from 1865 to 1877 in which the southern states that had seceded during the American Civil War rejoined the United States

c

medical : repair of an organ or body part by reconstructive surgery

knee/ligament reconstruction

2

a

: the re-creation or reimagining of something from the past especially by using information acquired through research

the historical reconstruction of an ancient village

the newspaper's reconstruction of the events

b

: a technical process by which scientific principles and techniques are applied to physical evidence in order to create an accurate reenactment or understanding of a past occurrence or event (such as an accident)

technology used in crime scene reconstruction

Examples of reconstruction in a Sentence

the reconstruction of the dam

the reconstruction of postwar Europe

reconstruction of the health-care system

They were able to determine the cause of the accident by careful reconstruction of the events leading up to it.

The police staged a reconstruction of the crime.

Recent Examples on the Web

The United States should also declare that Hamas and Israel are responsible for destruction and must be held responsible for reconstruction without any American funds. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024

Yellen in February offered her strongest public support yet for the idea of liquidating roughly $300 billion in frozen Russian Central Bank assets and using them for Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction. —Fatima Hussein, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024

And the reactive approach that Israel’s leadership has taken up to now could hinder the necessary shift from immediate relief toward medium- and long-term recovery and reconstruction. —Shira Efron, Foreign Affairs, 15 Apr. 2024

About 45% of respondents invested in their reconstruction and development in 2023 and 44% are going to do the same this year. —Yulia Drozd, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2024

The bridge's reconstruction is expected to take years and cost billions of dollars. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024

President Joe Biden pledged federal funds for reconstruction, while insurance, including Britannia P&I Club, may cover damages. —Benzinga, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2024

Combined with the skull that was found at his tomb, the team was able to render a digital reconstruction of the ruler’s face. —Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024

Damage and losses to cars and clean-up from the debris and reconstruction will also factor into the total, Worters said. —Catherine Thorbecke, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing reconstruction

• ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction

Kids Definition

reconstruction

noun

re·​con·​struc·​tion ˌrē-kən-ˈstrək-shən 

1

a

: the action of reconstructing : the state of being reconstructed

b

often capitalized : the reorganization and reestablishment of the Confederate states in the Union after the American Civil War

2

: something reconstructed

Medical Definition

reconstruction

noun

re·​con·​struc·​tion ˌrē-kən-ˈstrək-shən 

: repair of an organ or part by reconstructive surgery

breast reconstruction

Legal Definition

reconstruction

noun

re·​con·​struc·​tion

1

: a rebuilding of a nonfunctional patented article that amounts to creation of a new article and constitutes infringement of the patent

the complete replacement of the mechanism was a reconstruction and not a repair

2

: the practice or process of recreating an incident (as an accident) for the purpose of investigating the specific facts and circumstances surrounding it

heard testimony on the speed of the vehicle from an expert in accident reconstruction