reform

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˌɹiːˈfɔɹm/ UK /ˌɹiːˈfɔːm/ See IPA manual

Freq #7430

Meanings

1

verb
To change a system, law, or organization to make it better and fairer.

The government promised to reform the tax system.
2

noun
A change made to improve a system and remove problems or unfairness.

The reforms we proposed were too radical for the politicians.
3

verb
To change your behavior and become a better person.

The lazy student promised to reform.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

3 verb · to change your behavior and... straighten out

Word family

Forms reformedreformingreformsunreformed

Derived forms counterreformmisreformreformabilityreformablereformatereformeereformerrereformunreformability

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

land reform
changes to land ownership or distribution intended to improve access and fairness

Noun + noun

Simplified etymology

Reform entered English in the Middle English period with the sense “put back into shape.” It contains form, which goes back to Latin forma “a mould or form.”

Etymology

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

reformen Middle English reformer Old French reformo Latin réforme French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# reform

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɹiːˈfɔɹm/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɹiːˈfɔːm/
**Frequency rank:** 7430

## Meanings
1. To change a system, law, or organization to make it better and fairer.
2. A change made to improve a system and remove problems or unfairness.
3. To change your behavior and become a better person.

## Examples
- The government promised to reform the tax system.
- The reforms we proposed were too radical for the politicians.
- The lazy student promised to reform.

## Derived Forms
- counterreform
- misreform
- reformability
- reformable
- reformate
- reformee
- reformer
- rereform
- unreformability

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: reformen
- Root: reformer
- Root: reformo
- Root: réforme

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

## AI Etymology
Reform comes from Middle English reformen, from Old French reformer, from Latin reformo, reformare. As a noun since 1660s, from French réforme. Modern senses include to change a system, law, or organization to make it better and fairer. and a change made to improve a system and remove problems or unfairness.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as counterreform, misreform, reformability, reformable, reformate, and reformee.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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