(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Reform consists of changes and improvements to a law, social system, or institution. A ~ is an instance of such a change or improvement.
The party embarked on a programme of economic ~...
The Socialists introduced fairly radical ~s.
N-VAR
2.
If someone ~s something such as a law, social system, or institution, they change or improve it.
...his plans to ~ the country’s economy...
A ~ed party would have to win the approval of the people.
VERB: V n, V-ed
3.
When someone ~s or when something ~s them, they stop doing things that society does not approve of, such as breaking the law or drinking too much alcohol.
When his court case was coming up, James promised to ~...
We will try to ~ him within the community.
VERB: V, V n
~ed
...a ~ed alcoholic.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
4.
see also re-form