reconstruction

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

Updated on: 27 May 2018

Definition of reconstruction

1 a : 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

See reconstruction defined for English-language learners

See reconstruction defined for kids

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 of reconstruction from the Web

Brendan will also need some type of nasal reconstruction, his dad says.

— caitlin o'kane, CBS News, "Boy injured in New Jersey school bus crash receives gift from hockey idol," 22 May 2018
The Grafton alternate bid calls for full reconstruction of Grafton, with two additional turn lanes at the South Carpenter intersection.

— brian lisik/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Brunswick City Council schedules special meeting to vote on two 2018 road projects," 15 May 2018
Waubonsie Valley's program received a $20,000 grant that his students used for the reconstruction of the early childhood playground.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "Naperville People in the News," 15 May 2018
Up until about last summer, the east grandstand -- or, at least a facsimile of it -- was expected to be part of the Hayward Field reconstruction.

— ken goe, OregonLive.com, "Did Hayward's east grandstand get in the way of a 9-lane track? Oregon track & field rundown," 8 May 2018
Would a pick of a tackle in the third round or guard in the fourth have changed the challenging dynamic of this reconstruction?

— paul dehner jr., Cincinnati.com, "After defensive draft, Bengals turn OL over to Pollack," 28 Apr. 2018
The closures are part of the reconstruction of the Ga. 400/I-285 interchange in the top-end Perimeter area of North Fulton and DeKalb counties.

— david ibata, ajc, "GDOT shuts Ga. 400 ‘flex’ lane," 27 Apr. 2018
The first segment of reconstruction between Route 1, or North Hickory Avenue, and Southampton Road was completed in 2014.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Harford County moving ahead with final leg of Moores Mill Road upgrades," 27 Apr. 2018
For example, when World Bank reconstruction funds, partly provided by the U.S., were allocated for Tikrit, the PMF stole two generators powering a water treatment plant, Western officials say.

— jane arraf, Newsweek, "How Iraqi Forces Drove ISIS From Ramadi," 25 Feb. 2016

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.

First Known Use of reconstruction

1594

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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RECONSTRUCTION Defined for English Language Learners

reconstruction

noun

Definition of reconstruction for English Language Learners

: 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

Medical 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

Law Dictionary

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

Learn More about reconstruction

See words that rhyme with reconstruction Spanish Central: Translation of reconstruction Nglish: Translation of reconstruction for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of reconstruction for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reconstruction

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reconstruction

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RECONSTRUCTION Defined for English Language Learners

reconstruction

Definition of reconstruction for English Language Learners

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reconstruction

medical Definition of reconstruction

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reconstruction

legal Definition of reconstruction

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reconstruction

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