reform

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reform^¹

/ˌɹiːˈfɔɹm/ US
/ˌɹiːˈfɔːm/ UK
/ɹɪˈfɔɹm/ US
/ɹəˈfɔɹm/ US
/ɹɪˈfɔːm/ UK

Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)m

Where it comes from

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

noun reforms

countable, uncountable The change of something that is defective, broken, inefficient or otherwise negative, in order to correct or improve it The elections need to undergo a serious reform.
Similar: reformation, amendment, rectification, correction

verb reforms · reforming · reformed · re-form

transitive 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. to reform a profligate man; to reform corrupt manners or morals; to reform a criminal
Similar: amend, correct, rectify, mend, repair, better, improve, restore, reclaim
intransitive To return to a good state; to amend or correct one's own character or habits. It is hoped that many criminals, upon being freed, will eventually reform.
intransitive, transitive To form again or in a new configuration. This product contains reformed meat.

Reform^²

/ɹɪˈfɔɹm/ US
/ɹəˈfɔɹm/ US
/ɹɪˈfɔːm/ UK

Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)m

proper noun

UK, abbreviation, ellipsis Ellipsis of Reform UK (British nationalist party).
An evangelical organisation within Anglicanism.

adjective

not comparable Of Reform Judaism, its tenets, or its adherents.
Similar: Liberal

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: regenerate, straighten out, reformation, amendment, revamp, refurbishment, reshaping, reworking, restructuring, overhaul, renovation, reorganize, restructure, reshape, reorganization, repairing

Translations

Every language

noun amendment

Español	reforma
한국어	개혁 gaehyeok
日本語	改革 kaikaku
中文	改革 gǎigé
हिन्दी	सुधार sudhār, रिफ़ार्म rifārm, इस्लाह islāh
Português	reforma
Français	réforme
Deutsch	Reform
Italiano	riforma
Ελληνικά	μεταρρύθμιση metarrýthmisi, αναμόρφωση anamórfosi
Română	reformă
Русский	рефо́рма refórma, преобразова́ние preobrazovánije
Tiếng Việt	cải cách
العربية	إِصْلَاح ʔiṣlāḥ
עברית	רֶפוֹרְמָה refórma

verb to put into a new and improved form or condition

Español	reformar
中文	改革 gǎigé
Português	reformar
Français	réformer
Deutsch	reformieren
Italiano	riformare, migliorare
Русский	реформи́ровать reformírovatʹ
Tiếng Việt	cải cách

verb to return to a good state

Español	reformar
Italiano	correggere, ravvedersi, reintegrarsi

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Cite this

MLA

"reform." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/reform. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

reform. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/reform

Chicago

"reform." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/reform.

BibTeX

@misc{reform_2026,
  title = {reform},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/reform},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}