transformative

adjective

trans·​for·​ma·​tive tran(t)s-ˈfȯr-mə-tiv 

: causing or able to cause an important and lasting change in someone or something

a transformative experience

And she'll tell anyone who asks about her transformative weeks working for UNICEF in Congo and Cambodia.

—S. L. Price

It is increasingly hard to escape the conclusion that American politics has entered one of those rare transformative moments that shape the content of our public discourse and the direction of our governance for generations.

—Doug Ireland

Examples of transformative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Atmosphere explores the themes of sacrifice, public service, and the transformative power of love in a more earthbound version of what propels Marvel superheroes. —Maureen Lee Lenker Published, EW.com, 15 July 2025

According to Redmond, floating placement of a sofa can be transformative in a room, particularly with open layouts. —Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025

Musicologists have long waxed rhapsodic over the rise of rock ‘n’ roll in the ’50s, the transformative music of the ’60s, the meteoric rise of pop in the ’80s and the expansion of grunge music in the ’90s. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025

What might sound simple in design is transformative in impact. —Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 12 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for transformative

• germinative
• corroborative
• determinative
• forgive
• ogive
• outlive
• relive
• give
• sieve
• resistive