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

The rapid adoption of AI signals a transformative phase that requires close attention from researchers and policymakers. —Chara Podimata, Time, 21 Nov. 2025

There are no consolations to offer the grieving, really, but a squeeze of the hand, or a text, or a phone call, or a card in the mail can be transformative. —Sheldon Pearce, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025

While supporters view his platform as bold and transformative, opponents argue the measures are financially unrealistic. —Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, campaigned for transformative social and economic change in the city. —Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 19 Nov. 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