reconstruction

noun

re·​con·​struc·​tion ˌrē-kən-ˈstrək-shən How to pronounce reconstruction (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sanctions not only froze assets and restricted transactions with Syrian officials, but after the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, foreign individuals and companies that supported the regime's reconstruction efforts could also be targeted. Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025 Emese Gábor, a facial reconstruction specialist and portrait sculptor based in Hungary, spoke with Fox News Digital about the discovery. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2025 The all-digital approach started with the reconstruction of a Sam’s Club in Grapevine, a suburb of Dallas, that was severely damaged in 2022 by a tornado. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025 The city’s turbulent 20th-century history is visible in the bullet holes on facades, the graffitied remains of the Berlin Wall and the monotonous residential blocks erected during the post-World War II reconstruction. Valeriya Safronova, New York Times, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for reconstruction

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of reconstruction was in 1594

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reconstruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconstruction. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

reconstruction

noun
re·​con·​struc·​tion ˌrē-kən-ˈstrək-shən How to pronounce reconstruction (audio)
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 How to pronounce reconstruction (audio)
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!