reformer

noun re·form·er \ ri-ˈfȯr-mər \

Definition of reformer

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

See reformer defined for English-language learners

See reformer defined for kids

Recent Examples of reformer from the Web

It was wielded by the glasnost reformers like a sword, delivering the final blows against a regime that had lost its legitimacy.

— douglas murray, National Review, "The Russian Revolution, 100 Years On: Its Enduring Allure and Menace," 30 Oct. 2017
Generations of reformers—from John Locke to Martin Luther King Jr.—would praise his achievement.

— joseph loconte, WSJ, "How Martin Luther Advanced Freedom," 26 Oct. 2017
Apart from the Queen, whose portrait is on all U.K. currency, Austen is only the third woman to feature on a modern-day British banknote, after medical innovator Florence Nightingale and social reformer Elizabeth Fry.

— pan pylas, USA TODAY, "New plastic Jane Austen 10-pound note launched in Britain," 14 Sep. 2017
In fact, as the Roosevelt Institute’s Marshall Steinbaum recently noted, the New Deal reformers who brought robustly progressive taxation to the United States understood the policy as a means of altering the distribution of power in society.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Inequality Is a Bigger Threat to Our Democracy Than Putin Is," 2 Nov. 2017
These reformers chalked up a victory in Gambia in January, when Adama Barrow defeated Yahya Jammeh, who had ruled the small country on Africa's western coast for 23 years.

— tonny onyulo, USA TODAY, "How these African leaders subvert democracy to cling to power for life," 23 Oct. 2017
But whereas, after previous congresses, observers tried to work out the balance between reformers and conservatives in the new line-ups that emerged, few will be wasting much effort on such calculations this time.

— The Economist, "The party’s plansChina’s leader Xi Jinping declares the start of a “new era”," 21 Oct. 2017
His great fault, as women reformers emphasized, was that his heroes lived outside the home.

— richard white, Smithsonian, "When the Idea of Home Was Key to American Identity," 18 Sep. 2017
In that context, tax reformers and critics are fighting over the change in the couch cushions.

— brian riedl, National Review, "Sustainable Tax Reform Requires Taming Entitlements," 2 Nov. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reformer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of reformer

1526

REFORMER Defined for English Language Learners

reformer

noun

Definition of reformer for English Language Learners

: a person who works to change and improve a society, government, etc.

Learn More about reformer

See words that rhyme with reformer Spanish Central: Translation of reformer Nglish: Translation of reformer for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of reformer for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up reformer? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

reformer

Definition of reformer

Recent Examples of reformer from the Web

First Known Use of reformer

REFORMER Defined for English Language Learners

reformer

Definition of reformer for English Language Learners

Learn More about reformer

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

cathexis

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Words We're Watching: 'Bluebeard,' the Verb

Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

More Confusing Words—Quiz

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Citation

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

reformer

Definition of reformer

Recent Examples of reformer from the Web

First Known Use of reformer

REFORMER Defined for English Language Learners

reformer

Definition of reformer for English Language Learners

Learn More about reformer

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet

'Preventive' or 'Preventative'?

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Trending: Trump: Den of Thieves and 'Lowlifes'

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes