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

One potentially transformative idea – creating a tobacco-free generation – would build on these past laws. —Marie Helweg-Larsen, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026

Crazy thing, the skill that separates good leaders from transformative ones has nothing to do with telling a great story. —Chris Schembra, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026

Lenacapavir could be transformative, if people can get it. —Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

The producers have said the story will celebrate resilience, compassion, and the transformative power of kindness. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for transformative

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