reform

The word “reform” means a change made to improve something, especially a system, law, or institution. In plain terms, a positive change to a system or law, or the act of making such a change (or, personally, cleaning up your act).

“Reform” is pronounced ree-FAWM (/ˌɹiːˈfɔɹm/ in IPA).

Here is “reform” used in a sentence: “The government promised major healthcare reform.”

Depending on how it is used, “reform” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “reform” comes from Latin. From Old French reformer, from Latin reformare ("to shape again"), from re- plus formare ("to form").

“Reform” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Reform” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a change made to improve something, especially a system, law, or institution.

Reform improves a system by changing it gradually from within, keeping the overall structure intact — think of reforming a tax code or a school system. Revolution overturns the system entirely, often suddenly and sometimes by force. Reform mends and adjusts; revolution replaces. That contrast in scale and speed is the key difference.

History is full of them: electoral reform that changes how votes are counted, healthcare reform that reshapes access to care, and prison or education reform aimed at fairer systems. On a smaller scale, a company might reform its hiring policies. Each is a deliberate change meant to improve how something works.

Reform is usually named after what it changes. Political and electoral reform alters how power is won and used. Legal reform updates laws, social reform tackles issues like welfare or rights, and economic reform reshapes markets and taxes. Institutional reform overhauls bodies such as schools, courts or the police. All aim at improvement.