reform

1 of 4

verb (1)

re·​form ri-ˈfȯrm 

reformed; reforming; reforms

transitive verb

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 prisoners

4

a

: to subject (hydrocarbons) to cracking

b

: to produce (gasoline, gas, etc.) by cracking

intransitive verb

: to become changed for the better

reformability

ri-ˌfȯr-mə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

reformable

ri-ˈfȯr-mə-bəl 

adjective

reform

2 of 4

noun

1

: amendment of what is defective, vicious, corrupt, or depraved

2

: removal or correction of errors or of an abuse or a wrong

3

Reform : reform judaism

reform

3 of 4

adjective

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

2

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

re-form

4 of 4

verb (2)

(ˌ)rē-ˈfȯrm 

re-formed; re-forming; re-forms

transitive verb

: to form again

intransitive verb

: to take form again

the ice re-formed on the lake

re-formation

(ˌ)rē-fȯr-ˈmā-shən 

noun

Synonyms of reform

Verb (1)

• rehabilitate
• redeem

Choose the Right Synonym for reform

correct, rectify, emend, remedy, redress, amend, reform, revise mean to make right what is wrong.

correct implies taking action to remove errors, faults, deviations, defects.

correct your spelling

rectify implies a more essential changing to make something right, just, or properly controlled or directed.

rectify a misguided policy

emend specifically implies correction of a text or manuscript.

emend a text

remedy implies removing or making harmless a cause of trouble, harm, or evil.

set out to remedy the evils of the world

redress implies making compensation or reparation for an unfairness, injustice, or imbalance.

redress past social injustices

amend, reform, revise imply an improving by making corrective changes, amend usually suggesting slight changes,

amend a law

reform implying drastic change,

plans to reform the court system

and revise suggesting a careful examination of something and the making of necessary changes.

revise the schedule

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

Verb

Since reforming and opening up its economy in the late 1970s, China has barreled its way to becoming the world’s second-largest economy, with hundreds of millions lifted out of poverty and a nation transformed. — John Liu, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

The out-of-court settlement requires the City of Lexington and its police department to reform practices on a number of issues — from fines and bail to stops, searches and use of force — and bring them into compliance with state and federal law. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Noun

Advertisement Complicating matters, Huq says, is that legislative reforms could ultimately come before the Supreme Court, whose methods of interpreting the law leave the justices largely unconstrained in reaching their preferred outcomes. — Connor Greene, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

France's post-revolution history is not a solid story of protests and reforms, but of cycles of popular uprisings, repression, mobilization and political concessions. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Adjective

The former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander – who was involved in crushing pro-reform student protests – has emerged as one of Iran’s few politicians capable of dealing with both suit-wearing diplomats and soldiers in battle fatigues. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026

Auto glass repair lawsuits, a key driver of the pre-reform crisis, drop 89% in a single year. — David Wilson, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

Verb

Versions that use reversible bonds, which can break and re-form, keep 80% to 95% of the pure salt's heat-storage capacity. — New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026

Change the infrastructure and the bundle can be re-formed by anyone, in any order. — Nia Bowers, IndyStar, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French refurmer, from Latin reformare, from re- + formare to form, from forma form

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing reform

• anti-reform
• counter-reform
• land reform
• reform school

Rhymes for reform

• brainstorm
• conform
• deform
• firestorm
• hailstorm
• inform
• landform
• lukewarm
• perform
• planform
• platform
• preform

Kids 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

reformable

-ˈfȯr-mə-bəl 

adjective

reform

2 of 3 noun

1

: 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

2

: to induce or cause to abandon wrongful or harmful ways

a reformed drug dealer

intransitive verb

: to become changed for the better