M. J. Herskovits
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Reify is a word that attempts to provide a bridge between what is abstract and what is concrete. Fittingly, it comes from a word that is an ancestor of real—the Latin noun res, meaning "thing." Both reify and the related noun reification first appeared in English in the mid-19th century. Each word combines the Latin res with an English suffix (-fy and -fication, respectively) that comes from the Latin verb -ficare, meaning "to make." In general use, the words refer to the act of considering or presenting an abstract idea or concept in real or material terms, or of assessing something by use of a concrete example.
Examples of reify in a Sentence
Eric Crosby, Artforum, 1 May 2025
In a country shackled and scarred by race, religion, gender, and class, much of that rationalized and reified by mainline American churches, the Disciples were genial revolutionists offering inclusion, education, and empowerment for those at the margins.
—Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025
Many have reified their support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion.
—Rebecca Schneid, TIME, 1 Mar. 2025
The idea of the West was reified in all the alliances and exchanges between Europe and North America.
—David Brooks, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reify
Cite this Entry
“Reify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reify. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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