English Explanatory Dictionary

reform

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The change of something that is defective, broken, inefficient or otherwise negative, in order to correct or improve it
verb
  1. To put into a new and improved form or condition; to restore to a former good state, or bring from bad to good; to change from worse to better.
  2. To return to a good state; to amend or correct one's own character or habits.
  3. To form again or in a new configuration.
noun
  1. a political movement/party
adj
  1. Of Reform Judaism, its tenets, or its adherents.

Pronunciation

/ˌɹiːˈfɔɹm/ /ˌɹiːˈfɔːm/ /ɹɪˈfɔɹm/ /ɹəˈfɔɹm/ /ɹɪˈfɔːm/ en-us-reform.ogg

Word forms

reform reforms reforming reformed re-form

Etymology

From Middle English reformen, from Old French reformer, from Latin reformo, reformare. As a noun since 1660s, from French réforme.

Synonyms

reformation amendment rectification correction amend correct rectify mend repair better improve restore reclaim Liberal

Related words

reformation

Derived words

counterreform misreform antireform anti-reform monetary reform nonreform postreform prereform proreform pseudoreform reformism reform mathematics reform school spelling reform thought reform reformability reformable reformate reformee Reformer rereform unreformability Counter-Reformer
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