reform
the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.: social reform; spelling reform.
an instance of this.
the amendment of conduct, belief, etc.
to change to a better state, form, etc.; improve by alteration, substitution, abolition, etc.
to cause (a person) to abandon wrong or evil ways of life or conduct.
to put an end to (abuses, disorders, etc.).
Chemistry. to subject to the process of reforming, as in refining petroleum.
to abandon evil conduct or error: The drunkard promised to reform.
(initial capital letter) of, relating to, or characteristic of Reform Jews or Reform Judaism: a Reform rabbi.
Origin of reform
1Other words for reform
Opposites for reform
Other words from reform
- re·form·a·ble, adjective
- re·form·a·bil·i·ty, re·form·a·ble·ness, noun
- re·form·a·tive, adjective
- re·form·a·tive·ly, adverb
- re·form·a·tive·ness, noun
- re·form·ing·ly, adverb
- an·ti·re·form, adjective
- mis·re·form, verb
- pre·re·form, adjective
- pro·re·form, adjective
- self-re·form, noun
- su·per·re·form, noun, verb (used with object)
- un·re·form·a·ble, adjective
- un·re·form·a·tive, adjective
Words that may be confused with reform
- re-form, reform
Other definitions for re-form (2 of 2)
to form again.
Origin of re-form
2Other words from re-form
- re-for·ma·tion, noun
- re-former, noun
Words that may be confused with re-form
- re-form , reform
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for reform (1 of 2)
/ (rɪˈfɔːm) /
(tr) to improve (an existing institution, law, practice, etc) by alteration or correction of abuses
to give up or cause to give up a reprehensible habit or immoral way of life
chem to change the molecular structure of (a hydrocarbon) to make it suitable for use as petrol by heat, pressure, and the action of catalysts
an improvement or change for the better, esp as a result of correction of legal or political abuses or malpractices
a principle, campaign, or measure aimed at achieving such change
improvement of morals or behaviour, esp by giving up some vice
Origin of reform
1Derived forms of reform
- reformable, adjective
- reformative, adjective
- reformer, noun
British Dictionary definitions for re-form (2 of 2)
/ (riːˈfɔːm) /
to form anew
Derived forms of re-form
- re-formation, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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