rejuvenation

rejuvenation — noun

1. the process by which a person regains a more youthful appearance, energy, or liv

1.nounC1
Definition

the process by which a person regains a more youthful appearance, energy, or liveliness — for example, after rest, medical care, or a major change in daily habits.

Example

After three weeks of rest, Quinn noticed a clear rejuvenation in her skin and mood.

rejuvenation in + [body part/mood]

The doctor said the treatment could lead to a remarkable rejuvenation of the patient's muscles.

lead to + rejuvenation + of + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • skin rejuvenation
  • facial rejuvenation
  • physical rejuvenation
  • mental rejuvenation
  • sense of rejuvenation
  • feeling of rejuvenation
  • rejuvenation process
  • undergo rejuvenation
Synonyms
  • revival

    broader — can apply to health, spirits, or trends; less clinical than rejuvenation

  • restoration

    focuses on returning to a former good state rather than becoming youthful again

  • renewal

    general sense of starting again; less tied to age or energy

Antonyms
  • aging

    the natural process that rejuvenation aims to counteract

  • decline

    a gradual loss of strength or quality

Grammar Patterns

rejuvenation + of + noun phrase

sense/feeling of rejuvenation

Usage Note

Common in contexts of skincare, anti-aging medicine, and wellness. Frequently appears with nouns like 'skin', 'facial', or 'physical' before the headword (e.g., 'skin rejuvenation').

Common Mistakes

The city's rejuvenation brought new buildings.' (applying personal sense to impersonal context)
The city's revitalization brought new buildings.
For physical places or organizations, 'revitalization' or 'renewal' is more natural than the personal sense of 'rejuvenation'.

2. the process of giving an organization, industry, or area new energy and effectiv

2.nounC1
Definition

the process of giving an organization, industry, or area new energy and effectiveness, often by adopting fresh approaches, modern tools, or different leadership.

Example

The city's rejuvenation plan added parks, bike lanes, and housing to the downtown area.

rejuvenation plan

Salma was asked to lead the rejuvenation of the company's outdated computer systems.

Common collocations
  • corporate rejuvenation
  • urban rejuvenation
  • economic rejuvenation
  • rejuvenation plan
  • rejuvenation program
  • rejuvenation strategy
  • lead the rejuvenation
  • undergo rejuvenation
Synonyms
  • revitalization

    very close in meaning; slightly more common for economies and communities

  • renewal

    broader — can be physical, spiritual, or organisational; less specific about 'new methods'

  • turnaround

    focuses on a dramatic change from failure to success in business contexts

Antonyms
  • stagnation

    a state of little or no growth or change

  • decline

    a downward trend that rejuvenation tries to reverse

Grammar Patterns

rejuvenation + of + noun phrase

rejuvenation + plan/program

Usage Note

Subject is usually an organization, economy, urban area, or industry. The methods involved are typically modernisation projects, new hires, or fresh strategies. Distinguish from sense 1 (personal/physical), which cannot apply to organisations.

Common Mistakes

The hotel underwent a rejuvenation.' (for a building)
The hotel underwent a renovation.
'Rejuvenation' is for living systems (people, organizations); use 'renovation' or 'refurbishment' for physical structures.

Word family

  • rejuvenate
    verbC1
  • rejuvenating
    adjectiveC1
  • rejuvenated
    adjectiveC1
  • rejuvenative
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe making something effective again, but they differ in scope and flavour. 'Revitalization' is the closest synonym to 'rejuvenation' in sense 2 — it emphasises bringing new energy into a system, community, or economy, and is slightly more frequent in urban-planning contexts. 'Renewal' is broader: it covers physical rebuilding (urban renewal) as well as spiritual or personal fresh starts, so it can feel less precise when discussing organisational processes. 'Turnaround' is narrower and more dramatic — it implies a business or organisation was failing and was rescued, whereas 'rejuvenation' can apply whether or not the entity was in crisis. 'Restoration' leans toward returning something to a previous good state rather than innovating, so it fits heritage buildings or traditional practices better than modernisation projects. For example, a city might undergo 'economic rejuvenation' by attracting new industries, but the same city's historic district might need 'restoration' to preserve its original character.

revitalizationrenewal ↗turnaroundrestoration ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • process of rejuvenation
  • sense of rejuvenation
  • feeling of rejuvenation
  • period of rejuvenation
  • rejuvenation plan
  • rejuvenation program
  • rejuvenation strategy
  • rejuvenation project

Phrases

  • lead to rejuvenation
  • bring about rejuvenation
  • undergo rejuvenation
  • result in rejuvenation
  • contribute to rejuvenation

Prepositions

  • rejuvenation of
  • rejuvenation in

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Derived from Latin 're-' meaning 'again' and 'juvenis' meaning 'young' — the same root that gives us 'juvenile' and 'junior'. The word entered English in the early 1800s, first used in scientific writing about cell regeneration, and later expanded to describe the restoration of energy in people and organisations.