amendment

noun

amend·ment | \ ə-ˈmen(d)-mənt

Definition of amendment

1a : the process of altering or amending a law or document (such as a constitution) by parliamentary or constitutional procedure rights that were granted by amendment of the Constitution

b : an alteration proposed or effected by this process a constitutional amendment

2 : the act of amending something : correction

3 : a material (such as compost or sand) that aids plant growth indirectly by improving the condition of the soil soil amendments

Synonyms What is a constitutional amendment? More Example Sentences Learn More About amendment

What is a constitutional amendment?

An amendment is essentially a correction. It comes in many varieties, up to and including the process of altering something through either parliamentary or constitutional procedure. In the United States, the word is often used specifically of a change to the U.S. Constitution. A constitutional amendment may be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives or through a constitutional convention with majority votes in two-thirds of state legislatures. Once it is ratified by Congress, it must be approved by three-fourths (i.e., 38 of 50) of the states.

Examples of amendment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The proposal, a state Senate constitutional amendment, must clear both legislative houses before June 30. — John Myers, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2022 In the 1980s, Biden voted for a constitutional amendment that would have allowed states to overturn Roe v. Wade. — Brian Bennett, Time, 13 May 2022 On August 2, Kansans will vote on a constitutional amendment that would overturn that decision. — Grace Segers, The New Republic, 11 May 2022 In the election that fall, a constitutional amendment was passed in Louisiana that, in the event Roe v. Wade gets overturned, would strike down the right to abortions or state funding for them. — Jeff Gage, Billboard, 10 May 2022 Legislation that would have allowed voters to decide on a constitutional amendment to prohibit noncitizen voting failed this year in the Georgia General Assembly. — Kate Brumback, ajc, 9 May 2022 And then there is a petition campaign circulating to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. — NBC News, 8 May 2022 The next year, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that absent a constitutional amendment, dividends must compete for annual funding like other state programs. — Becky Bohrer, Anchorage Daily News, 6 May 2022 After voters approved a 2016 constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana, the Legislature passed a law creating a framework for Florida’s cannabis industry. — Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'amendment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

18 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Amendment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amendment. Accessed 21 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for amendment

amendment

noun

amend·ment | \ ə-ˈmend-mənt

Kids Definition of amendment

: a change in wording or meaning especially in a law, bill, or motion

amendment

noun

amend·ment

Legal Definition of amendment

1 : an act of amending especially : an alteration in wording amendments to cure the defect in the pleading

2 : an alteration proposed or put into effect by parliamentary or constitutional procedure the Congress…shall propose amendments to this Constitution — U.S. Constitution art. V