reform

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2

Definition

To change a system, law, organization, or someone's personal habits in order to fix its faults and make it work better.

Example

The government plans to reform the healthcare system so that more people can get treatment quickly.

collocation: reform + [system / law / institution]

After years of gambling, Eshe decided to reform and focus on her family.

intransitive: person reforms their behaviour

Common collocations

reform the system
reform the law
reform the economy
reform one's ways
reform behaviour
reform the education sector

Synonyms

overhaul
suggests a thorough, complete change, often of a physical system or process
improve
broader meaning without the implication of fixing faults or abuses
revise
typically used for written documents or plans, not systems or behaviour

Antonyms

worsen
to make something worse instead of better
preserve
to keep something exactly as it is, without change

Grammar Patterns

reform + [system / law / institution]

reform + [person's ways / behaviour]

Usage Note

Can be used transitively (reform a system) or intransitively (a person reforms). For personal behaviour change, the intransitive use often implies stopping a harmful habit. The passive form is common in news discourse.

Common Mistakes

The teacher reformed the lesson plan.

The teacher revised the lesson plan.

'reform' means making deep improvements to a system or character, not small adjustments to everyday documents or plans.

I reformed my shirt before the party.

I changed my shirt before the party.

'reform' is not used for minor everyday changes.

1.nounB2

Definition

A change made to a system, law, organization, or personal way of behaving that corrects faults and produces better results.

Example

The education reform introduced smaller class sizes across all public schools.

collocation: education / tax / political / health reform

Christopher believes that political reform is necessary to reduce corruption in the government.

Common collocations

education reform
tax reform
political reform
health reform
electoral reform
economic reform
sweeping reforms
far-reaching reform

Synonyms

overhaul
suggests a more thorough and complete rebuilding of a system
restructuring
focuses on changing the organisation or arrangement, not necessarily fixing faults
amendment
a smaller, more specific change, usually to a law or document

Antonyms

stagnation
a state of no movement or change
deterioration
the process of becoming worse rather than better

Grammar Patterns

[area] + reform

reform of + [system / institution]

Usage Note

Often follows a noun to specify the area of change, e.g. education reform, tax reform, electoral reform. Can be countable (a reform, many reforms) when referring to specific changes, or uncountable (reform) when talking about the idea or process in general.

Common Mistakes

I need a reform of my daily routine.

I need to change my daily routine.

'reform' is reserved for significant systems or serious personal change, not everyday habits.

The company made a small reform to the menu.

The company made a small change to the menu.

Use 'reform' for meaningful structural improvements, not trivial adjustments.

2.nounB2

Definition

A shorter way to refer to Reform UK, a British political party that advocates for lower taxes, stricter immigration controls, and reducing the size of government.

Example

Reform won two seats in the last general election.

proper noun: always capitalised

Voters who supported Reform said they wanted lower taxes and stricter rules on immigration.

Grammar Patterns

Reform + [verb]

the leader / members / supporters of Reform

Usage Note

Always capitalised. Used mainly in British political news contexts. The party was originally founded as the Brexit Party in 2018 and was renamed Reform UK in 2021.

Common Mistakes

I voted for reform in the election.

I voted for Reform in the election.

When referring to the political party, the word must be capitalised.

Reform party is popular among young voters.

The Reform party is popular among young voters.

Though 'Reform' is a name, it is often preceded by 'the' like other party names.

1.adjectiveC1

Definition

Supporting or connected to the idea of making changes to existing systems, especially in politics where reforms are seen as necessary improvements.

Example

The newspaper has a reform agenda and wants to change how the country is run.

collocation: reform agenda / reform movement / reform candidate

Reform candidates were elected to the city council after promising to cut waste and taxes.

Common collocations

reform agenda
reform movement
reform candidate
reform party
reform politician

Synonyms

progressive
broader term that also includes social and cultural change, not just structural reform
revisionist
more negative connotation, often used for changing historical interpretations

Antonyms

conservative
resists change and prefers to keep existing systems
reactionary
wants to return to an earlier, more traditional state

Grammar Patterns

reform + [noun]

Usage Note

Used only before a noun (attributive position). It cannot be used after a linking verb — e.g. 'a reform politician' is correct, but 'the politician is reform' is not. Often contrasts with 'conservative' or 'traditional' in political writing.

Common Mistakes

The new mayor is very reform.

The new mayor has a reform agenda.

The adjective cannot be used after a verb like 'is'. Use it before a noun.

2.adjectiveC1

Definition

Belonging to Reform Judaism, a liberal branch of Judaism that adapts traditional religious beliefs and practices to fit modern life.

Example

The Liang family attends a Reform synagogue near their home every Friday evening.

collocation: Reform synagogue / Reform congregation / Reform Judaism

Reform Judaism allows men and women to sit together during worship services.

Common collocations

Reform Judaism
Reform synagogue
Reform congregation
Reform rabbi
Reform movement

Synonyms

Liberal Judaism
used mainly in the UK to describe the same movement
Progressive Judaism
an umbrella term that includes Reform and other liberal Jewish movements

Antonyms

Orthodox Judaism
the traditional branch that maintains original religious practices

Grammar Patterns

Reform + [Judaism / synagogue / rabbi / congregation]

Usage Note

Always capitalised. This sense refers specifically to the Reform movement within Judaism, which began in 19th-century Germany. It contrasts with Orthodox Judaism and Conservative Judaism. 'Reform' is placed before religious terms: a Reform synagogue, not a 'reformed' synagogue.

Common Mistakes

They go to a reformed synagogue.

They go to a Reform synagogue.

The correct term uses 'Reform' as a proper adjective, not the past participle 'reformed'.

Word family

reformation
nounC1
reformer
nounC1
reformist
adjectiveC2
reformed
adjectiveB2
unreformed
adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

While all four words involve making something better, they differ in scope and intensity. Reform suggests fixing fundamental faults in a system, institution, or personal character — it is the broadest and most structural of the four. Overhaul implies a thorough, often physical rebuilding, as in overhauling an engine or an entire department, and carries a sense of complete disassembly and reassembly. Revise is much narrower, limited to changing written documents, plans, or ideas — you revise an essay, not a government. Improve is the most general term, covering any change that makes something better, whether it fixes a fault or not. For example, you can improve a meal by adding salt, but you would not say you reformed it; conversely, a country that reforms its justice system is doing something more fundamental than merely improving it. Reform is the strongest word when the goal is to correct deep-rooted problems.

reform ↗overhaulrevise ↗improve ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

call for reform
push for reform
bring about reform
implement reforms

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Reform comes from the Latin word reformare, meaning 'to form again'. It is made up of re- ('again') and formare ('to shape or form'). The word entered English through Old French reformer in the 14th century. At first it simply meant 'to shape again', but by the 16th century it had gained the sense of 'improving by removing faults', especially in religious and political contexts.

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reform

reform — verb

1. To change a system, law, organization, or someone's personal habits in order to

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

reform — noun

1. A change made to a system, law, organization, or personal way of behaving that c

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. A shorter way to refer to Reform UK, a British political party that advocates fo

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

reform — adjective

1. Supporting or connected to the idea of making changes to existing systems, espec

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. Belonging to Reform Judaism, a liberal branch of Judaism that adapts traditional

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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