reform

UK: noun: /rɪˈfɔː^rm/, verb: /ˌriːˈfɔː^rm/ US: (ri fôrm′)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

reform / rɪˈfɔːm/ verb

1. (transitive) to improve (an existing institution, law, practice, etc) by alteration or correction of abuses
2. to give up or cause to give up a reprehensible habit or immoral way of life

noun

1. an improvement or change for the better, esp as a result of correction of legal or political abuses or malpractices
2. a principle, campaign, or measure aimed at achieving such change
3. improvement of morals or behaviour, esp by giving up some vice

Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French from Latin reformāre to form again

reˈformable adjective

reˈformative adjective

reˈformer noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re-form /riˈfɔrm/   v. 

1. to form again: [~ + object]
   The general re-formed his troops.
   [no object]
   The troops re-formed.

re•form /rɪˈfɔrm/   n. 

1. the improvement, changing, or removing of what is wrong, evil, unsatisfactory, etc.:
   [uncountable] urging social reform.
2. an instance of this:
   [countable] some long overdue reforms in the tax codes.

v. 

3. to change to a better state, form, etc.:
   [~ + object] to reform the corrupt system.
4. to (cause a person to) abandon wrong or evil ways: [no object]
   He promised to reform and live honestly.
   [~ + object]
   Could he reform his evil ways?

adj. 

5. Judaism [before a noun* Reform] conforming to or characteristic of a movement in Judaism that simplifies or rejects some traditional beliefs and practices to meet the conditions of contemporary life.

re•form•er, n. [countable] See -form-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re-form  (rē fôrm′), v.t., v.i. 

1. to form again.

• 1300–50; Middle English; origin, originally identical with reform

re′-for•ma′tion, n. 
re-form′er, n. 

re•form  (ri fôrm′), n. 

1. the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.:
   social reform; spelling reform.
2. an instance of this.
3. the amendment of conduct, belief, etc.

v.t. 

4. to change to a better state, form, etc.;
   improve by alteration, substitution, abolition, etc.
5. to cause (a person) to abandon wrong or evil ways of life or conduct.
6. to put an end to (abuses, disorders, etc.).
7. Chemistry to subject to the process of reforming, as in refining petroleum.

v.i. 

8. to abandon evil conduct or error:
   The drunkard promised to reform.

adj. 

9. Judaism (cap.) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Reform Jews or Reform Judaism:
   a Reform rabbi.

• French réforme
• Latin refōrmāre (see re-, form); (noun, nominal) partly derivative of the verb, verbal, partly
• Middle French reformer, Old French
• (verb, verbal) Middle English reformen 1300–50

re•form′a•ble, adj. 
re•form′a•bil′i•ty, re•form′a•ble•ness, n. 
re•form′a•tive, adj. 
re•form′a•tive•ly, adv. 
re•form′a•tive•ness, n. 
re•form′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. correction, reformation, betterment, amelioration.
• 4. better, rectify, correct, amend, emend, ameliorate, repair, restore.

Antonyms

• 1. deterioration.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

re-form / riːˈfɔːm/ verb

1. to form anew

ˌre-forˈmation noun