reformation
gb/ɹˌɛfɚmˈeɪʃən/ us/ɹˌɛfɚmˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
~ 9500
reform, reformáció, megjavulás
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
1
reform
B2
Usage pattern:
the reformation of [system/organization/law]
Many citizens are demanding the reformation of the electoral system to increase transparency.
Sok állampolgár a választási rendszer reformját követeli az átláthatóság növelése érdekében.
The report recommended a complete reformation of the country’s prison system.
A jelentés az ország börtönrendszerének átfogó reformját javasolta.
Without serious reformation of tax laws, inequality will continue to rise.
The new administration has made legal reformation one of its top priorities.
Learner examples
People want the reformation of the school system.
Az emberek az iskolarendszer reformját akarják.
The government talked about the reformation of health care.
A kormány az egészségügy reformjáról beszélt.
Reformation of the law will take many years.
The country needs reformation of its police system.
Common mistake:
Learners often use "reformation" where native speakers would more naturally say "reform" (e.g., "education reform" is much more common than "education reformation"). Learners also sometimes confuse "reformation" with "formation": "formation" means the creation or shaping of something, not its improvement.
Meaning
process of improving a system
Collocations
social reformation
|political reformation
|educational reformation
|reformation of the tax system
|reformation of the legal system
|sweeping reformation
Synonyms
reform (More common and slightly less formal; often preferred in everyday speech for changes to systems or laws.)
|
overhaul (Suggests very large, thorough changes, often more radical than "reformation".)
Antonyms
preservation (Focuses on keeping a system as it is instead of changing it to improve it.)
Themes
politics
|society
|law
|business
Definition
The process of changing a system, law, or organization to make it better or fairer.
The act or process of changing a system, institution, or set of practices in order to improve it or correct faults.
NOUN
B2
2
reformáció
B2
Usage pattern:
the Reformation
The Reformation reshaped the religious and political landscape of Europe.
A reformáció átalakította Európa vallási és politikai arculatát.
Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses are often seen as the starting point of the Reformation.
Luther Márton kilencvenöt tézisét gyakran a reformáció kezdetének tekintik.
The Reformation challenged the authority of the pope and the Catholic Church.
Historians still debate how much the Reformation contributed to the rise of modern nation-states.
Learner examples
The Reformation started in Europe in the sixteenth century.
A reformáció a tizenhatodik században kezdődött Európában.
Martin Luther was an important leader in the Reformation.
Luther Márton a reformáció egyik fontos vezetője volt.
Because of the Reformation, many new churches were created.
We studied the causes of the Reformation in history class.
Common mistake:
Learners often forget to capitalize "Reformation" when it refers to this historical event. They may also say "Reformation" without "the" (e.g., "Reformation changed Europe"), but in this sense it is usually used with "the" as a proper name: "the Reformation".
Meaning
16th-century Protestant religious movement
Collocations
the Reformation
|Protestant Reformation
|English Reformation
|Reformation theology
|pre-Reformation Europe
Synonyms
Protestant Reformation (A more specific name that clearly identifies the movement as Protestant and is common in history writing.)
Antonyms
Counter-Reformation (The movement inside the Roman Catholic Church that reacted against and opposed the Reformation.)
Themes
history
|religion
|politics
Definition
A religious movement in Europe in the 1500s when some Christians broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and started Protestant churches.
The 16th-century religious movement in Europe that led to the creation of Protestant churches and major changes in the Roman Catholic Church.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
3
megjavulás
B1
Usage pattern:
the reformation of [someone]
After years in prison, his apparent reformation surprised the entire community.
Éveknyi börtön után a látszólagos megjavulása meglepte az egész közösséget.
The program aims at the reformation of young offenders rather than simply punishing them.
A program célja a fiatal elkövetők megjavítása, nem pusztán a megbüntetésük.
Her friends doubted the sincerity of his sudden reformation.
Religious leaders preached the reformation of individual hearts as the first step toward social change.
Learner examples
The judge hoped for the reformation of the young man.
A bíró remélte, hogy a fiatalember megjavul.
Her family did not believe in his reformation.
A családja nem hitt a megjavulásában.
The school works for the reformation of troubled students.
They saw his reformation as a second chance.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with general social or political change. In this meaning, "reformation" is about a person changing their behavior or morals, not about changing laws or institutions.
Meaning
a person’s change to better behavior
Collocations
complete reformation
|moral reformation
|spiritual reformation
|his reformation
|reformation of character
Synonyms
rehabilitation (Often used in legal or medical contexts; focuses more on treatment and support than on moral or spiritual change.)
|
reform (Can also refer to personal change, but is more general; "reformation" sounds more formal and often more moral or religious.)
Antonyms
relapse (Describes someone returning to bad behavior after a period of improvement, the opposite of continuing reformation.)
Themes
psychology
|law
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When a person who did bad things changes and starts to behave well and follow rules or moral values.
The process by which a person with bad habits, criminal behavior, or poor morals changes and starts to behave in a better, more responsible way.
Grammar
Dictionary form
reformation
IPA
GB/ɹˌɛfɚmˈeɪʃən/
US/ɹˌɛfɚmˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
re - form - a - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (form)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: reformation
- Plural: reformation, reformations
Word family
Expressions
the Reformation
1/ðə ɹˌɛfɚmˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
name of a major religious movement
The name for the time in the 1500s when many Christians in Europe left the Roman Catholic Church and started Protestant churches.
Examples
- Many European countries were deeply changed by the Reformation.
- Our professor explained how the Reformation affected art and education.
- Calvin was one of the key thinkers of the Reformation.