reformed; reforming; reforms
1
a
: to put or change into an improved form or condition
b
: to amend or improve by change of form or removal of faults or abuses
2
: to put an end to (an evil) by enforcing or introducing a better method or course of action
3
: to induce or cause to abandon evil ways
reform a drunkard
4
a
: to subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking
b
: to produce (gasoline, gas, etc.) by cracking
: to become changed for the better
1
: amendment of what is defective, vicious, corrupt, or depraved
2
: removal or correction of errors or of an abuse or a wrong
3
capitalized
: reform judaism
1
: relating to or favoring reform
All of the great American reform movements—from civil rights to child-labor laws—started far from Washington, D.C. In state legislatures and town halls …—
William Greider
William Greider2
Reform
: of, relating to, or practicing Reform Judaism
Reform Jews, by the end of the nineteenth century, had adopted the custom of rising to their feet to pronounce the Shema in unison.—Jonathan D. Sarna
Jonathan D. Sarna
re-formed; re-forming; re-forms
: to form again
: to take form again
the ice re-formed on the lake
Examples of reform in a Sentence
Verb (1)
The program is designed to reform prisoners.
They want to reform campaign spending.
The laws need to be reformed.
The program is designed to help former gang members who are trying to reform.
Noun
A group of senators are calling for reform of the nation's health-care system.
He has proposed a list of political reforms.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 9 May 2025
The legislature’s proposal In late April, the legislature’s Appropriations Committee adopted a $55.7 billion two-year budget that would require Connecticut to legally exceed its spending cap for the first time since 2007 and reform another key savings program.
—Jessika Harkay, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2025
Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2025
But other causes of action persist, and the plaintiffs’ attorneys are still pushing to impose reforms that the Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department have yet to implement.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025
Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2022
Three of the seven candidates in Iran’s presidential election dropped out days before the June 18 vote, leaving just one pro-reform contender and helping hardline frontrunner Ebrahim Raisi consolidate his support.
—Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg.com, 16 June 2021
August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
At the lakeside ice-cream stand, lines ceaselessly form and re-form.
—Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reform
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Trump has a plan: The CEOs of the five largest U.S. airlines on Thursday plan to back the Trump administration's proposal to spend tens of billions of dollars to reform the aging air traffic control system and boost hiring, officials said.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 9 May 2025
The legislature’s proposal In late April, the legislature’s Appropriations Committee adopted a $55.7 billion two-year budget that would require Connecticut to legally exceed its spending cap for the first time since 2007 and reform another key savings program.
—Jessika Harkay, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2025
Noun
Republicans are also much more supportive of election reforms proposed by President Donald Trump.
—Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2025
But other causes of action persist, and the plaintiffs’ attorneys are still pushing to impose reforms that the Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department have yet to implement.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2025
Adjective
In a letter, 140 ophthalmologists raised concerns about a rising number of patients with severe eye injuries resulting from being shot with metal pellets and rubber bullets, according to pro-reform Iranian news site Sobhema and Iran International as well as other sites on social media.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2022
Three of the seven candidates in Iran’s presidential election dropped out days before the June 18 vote, leaving just one pro-reform contender and helping hardline frontrunner Ebrahim Raisi consolidate his support.
—Arsalan Shahla, Bloomberg.com, 16 June 2021
Verb
While never a commercial success during its initial run from 1975 to 1982, Pere Ubu would inspire generations of experimental rockers and producers, and re-formed over the years with a revolving lineup around Thomas.
—August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025
At the lakeside ice-cream stand, lines ceaselessly form and re-form.
—Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reform
Cite this Entry
“Reform.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reform. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reform
1 of 3 verb
re·form
ri-ˈfȯ(ə)rm 
1
: to make better by removal of faults
reform a prisoner
2
: to correct or improve one's own behavior or habits
reform
2 of 3 noun1
: improvement in what is bad
2
: a removal or correction of an abuse, a wrong, or errors
re-form
3 of 3 verb(ˈ)rē-ˈfȯ(ə)rm
: to form again
the ice re-formed on the lake
Legal Definition
reform
transitive verb
re·form
ri-ˈfȯrm
1
: to put (a writing) into a corrected form that more accurately reflects the agreement of the parties
allows a writing signed by mistake to be reformed—W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
compare ratify
W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.2
: to induce or cause to abandon wrongful or harmful ways
a reformed drug dealer
: to become changed for the better
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