reformer

noun

re·​form·​er ri-ˈfȯr-mər How to pronounce reformer (audio)
1
: one that works for or urges reform
2
capitalized : a leader of the Protestant Reformation
3
: an apparatus for cracking oils or gases to form specialized products

Examples of reformer in a Sentence

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 most recent Pope Leo Leo XIII was elected in 1878 and was known as a reformer, a pontiff who emphasized diplomacy, advocated for scientific progress and positioned the church as a defender of human rights. Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 9 May 2025 The cardinal electors face a stark choice — select a pope who will follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis, an Argentine reformer who advocated for migrants and the environment, or one who will guide the Catholic Church down a more traditional path. Nbc News, NBC news, 7 May 2025 As a Jesuit priest from Argentina who was highly skeptical of capitalism, Francis—who took his name from Saint Francis of Assisi, a champion of poverty and austerity—promised to be a reformer, vowing to clean up how the Vatican did business, promising more transparency than any of his predecessors. Gerald Posner, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025 Men in the society refused to associate with moral reformers, posing a direct threat to the women who were dependent on them as their primary breadwinners. Jenna Deep, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reformer

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reformer was in 1526

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Cite this Entry

“Reformer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reformer. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

reformer

noun
re·​form·​er ri-ˈfȯr-mər How to pronounce reformer (audio)
: one that works for reform

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