reformation

[ref-er-mey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of changing to a better state or character, way of operating, lifestyle, etc.; the correction of abuses and bad habits or practices.

   Last year the team underwent a reformation under the direction of a new head coach.

   The reformation of the justice system in that country is long overdue.

   Synonyms: reform, correction, betterment, improvement

2. an improved state or way of functioning that results from the correction of abuses and bad habits or practices.

   The gambler's so-called reformation lasted exactly one month.

3. Church History.,  the Reformation, the 16th-century movement that began with the objective of correcting theology and practice in the Roman Catholic Church and that ultimately led to the establishment of the Protestant churches.

Reformation

¹

/ ˌrɛfəˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. a religious and political movement of 16th-century Europe that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the establishment of the Protestant Churches

reformation

²

/ ˌrɛfəˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of reforming or the state of being reformed

Reformation

1. A religious movement in the sixteenth century that began as an attempted reform of the Roman Catholic Church but resulted in the founding of Protestant church es separate from it. Some of the leaders of the Reformation were Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox. The Reformation was established in England after King Henry VIII declared himself head of the Christian Church in that country.

Other Word Forms

• reformational adjective
• nonreformation noun
• nonreformational adjective
• post-Reformation noun
• pre-Reformation noun
• prereformation adjective
• self-reformation noun
• superreformation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Reformation¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English reformacion, from Latin refōrmātiōn-, stem of refōrmātiō, from refōrmāt(us) “reformed” (past participle of refōrmāre “to form again”; reform ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

In doing so, the then pontiff made Newman the first English saint since the Forty Martyrs, who had been executed under Reformation laws during the 16th and 17th Centuries.

From BBC

Kirk called him “one of the most influential Protestant minds since the Reformation,” and a “legend” who “never bowed to the gods of this age” and “never apologized for Scripture.”

From Salon

Both brands issued clarifications - while H&M denied the allegations, Reformation said its design was inspired by an outfit owned by a model with whom it had collaborated for the collection.

From BBC

The group is a Bible school linked to the New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR.

From Salon

As a graduate of the Christ For The Nations Institute, he appears to have ties to the charismatic movement and the New Apostolic Reformation.

From Salon

Related Words

• realignment 
• renewal 
• reorganization 
• transformation