reconstruction

noun

re·con·struc·tion | \ ˌrē-kən-ˈstrək-shən

Definition of reconstruction

1a : the action of reconstructing : the state of being reconstructed

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

2 : something reconstructed

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 His plan would modernize 20,000 miles of road, take on 10 of the nation’s biggest bridge-reconstruction projects and repair 10,000 smaller bridges. — Washington Post, "In Biden’s infrastructure moonshot, a big question: Can the nation still achieve its highest ambitions?," 6 May 2021 In addition to the downtown developments, Abu-Taleb oversaw major roadway reconstruction projects on Lake Street, Madison Street and Oak Park Avenue, while also spearheading redevelopment along the Madison corridor. — Steve Schering, chicagotribune.com, "‘The time of my life’: Outgoing Oak Park mayor, trustees recognized for their service," 5 May 2021 Simsbury voters overwhelmingly approved a nearly $99 million budget for the town and school system Tuesday along with a $36.8 million reconstruction of Latimer Lane School. — Don Stacom, courant.com, "Simsbury approves Latimer Lane School reconstruction and annual budgets; votes on Meadowood acquisition undergoing recount," 5 May 2021 The American Academy of Pediatrics says there are more than 100,000 ACL reconstruction surgeries performed in the U.S. annually. — Tim Bannon, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "As participation in youth sports grows, more are winding up on the injured list," 29 Apr. 2021 The rules about reconstruction have never been hard and fast, yesterday or today. — Ingrid D. Rowland, The New York Review of Books, "Light in the Palazzo," 27 Apr. 2021 To do more, such as a reconstruction of the road, Gerson said plans would have to be drawn and that such a project would have to wait until next year. — cleveland, "Mayfield Heights Council to consider what road work should be done, and when, on Woodhawk Drive," 27 Apr. 2021 Forensic reconstruction of the accident and the investigation into Boever's death are still ongoing. — NBC News, "Man struck by South Dakota AG's car died from vehicle impact, initial autopsy confirms," 13 Oct. 2020 Intersection reconstruction is underway; Narrows Bridge on County Road 19 closed until early September. — Tim Harlow, Star Tribune, "A holiday rarity, Hwy. 100 to close over Labor Day weekend," 3 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reconstruction.' 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

9 May 2021

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“Reconstruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconstruction. Accessed 13 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for reconstruction

reconstruction

noun

English Language Learners Definition of reconstruction

: the act or process of building something that was damaged or destroyed again

: the process of putting something (such as a country) back into a good condition

: a process in which an event or series of events is carefully examined in order to find out or show exactly what happened

See the full definition for reconstruction in the English Language Learners Dictionary

reconstruction

noun

re·con·struc·tion | \ ˌrē-kən-ˈstrək-shən

Medical Definition of reconstruction

: repair of an organ or part by reconstructive surgery breast reconstruction

reconstruction

noun

re·con·struc·tion

Legal Definition of reconstruction

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