Reform Meaning
/ˌɹiːˈfɔɹm/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe change of something that is defective, broken, inefficient or otherwise negative, in order to correct or improve it
verbTo 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.
Sentence Examples
The politician pushed for reform by denouncing the corruption of the government officials.
In the main, I am in favor of political reform if meaningful changes are made.
Proposals to reform the social security system
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The new laws are a ____ of the old prison system to make it fairer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new government promised to ____ the healthcare system to make it more efficient and equitable.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English reformen, from Old French reformer, from Latin reformo, reformare. As a noun since 1660s, from French réforme.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In this interview with Law Editors and Correspondents, he speaks on the gains of reforming the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), efforts to keep underage persons out of jail."
— 2018 January 15, Adebisi Onanuga, Robert Egbe, “‘How we stopped DPP’s office from being used to settle scores’”, in The Nation:
"“There was always something a bit wrong with him,” she said, “but nothing you mightn’t have hoped for, not till they took him and carried him off and reformed him”"
— 1909, H. G. Wells, chapter 9, in The History of Mr. Polly:
"Thus human nature seems to lie under the disadvantage, that the example alone of a vicious prince, will in time corrupt an age; but the example of a good one, will not be sufficient to reform it without farther endeavours."
— 1709, Jonathan Swift, A Project for the Advancement of Religion and the Reformation of Manners:
"Since first tossing its cartoonish, good-time cock-rock to the masses in the early ’00s, The Darkness has always fallen back on this defense: The band is a joke, but hey, it’s a good joke. With Hot Cakes—the group’s third album, and first since reforming last year—the laughter has died. In its place is the sad wheeze of the last surviving party balloon slowly, listlessly deflating."
— 2012 August 21, Jason Heller, “The Darkness: Hot Cakes (Music Review)”, in The Onion AV Club:
"Two-car CrossCountry Class 170/5 diesel multiple units are being extended to three-car formations and reclassified as Class 170/6s, to boost capacity on the Birmingham-Stansted Airport route. So far, two have been reformed by Arriva TrainCare at Bristol Barton Hill and put back into traffic."
— 2021 February 10, “Fleet News: CrossCountry boosts capacity by extending two-car Class 170/5s”, in RAIL, number 924, page 29:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The new laws are a ____ of the old prison system to make it fairer.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new government promised to ____ the healthcare system to make it more efficient and equitable.