reform
reform Lexical Profile
reform Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The action or process of making changes to an institution, practice, or law in order to improve it and remove abuses or injustices.
"The newly elected legislature promised sweeping healthcare and educational reform."
A noticeable improvement in a person's behavior, character, or moral conduct.
"The community service program focuses on the rehabilitation and moral reform of young offenders."
• verb
To make changes in a social, political, or economic institution or practice in order to improve it and eliminate faults or abuses.
"The committee proposed a comprehensive plan to reform the outdated tax code."
To cause a person to abandon immoral, criminal, or harmful behavior, or to give up such behavior oneself.
"After years of irresponsible habits, he vowed to reform and rebuild his career."
To form or cause to form again into a group, structure, or organization.
"The musicians decided to reform their band for an anniversary concert tour."
To subject petroleum fractions to a catalytic or thermal cracking process in order to convert molecules into higher-octane fuel components (in chemistry).
"Refineries reform low-octane naphtha into high-octane aromatics for commercial fuel."
Word Nuance & Usage
When spelled without a hyphen, 'reform' means to improve by correcting abuses; when hyphenated as 're-form', it literally means to form or shape again (e.g., to re-form a line).
• Rhymes for reform
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 14th century from Old French 'reformer', which derives from the Latin 'reformare' ('to form again, mold anew, or change'), combining 're-' (back, again) and 'formare' (to form).