Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Capable of being reformed or improved: Describes a person, system, or situation that has flaws or has done wrong but possesses the inherent quality or potential to be corrected, amended, or made better.
   • Open to positive change: Implies that the subject is not fixed in a negative state and is susceptible to rehabilitation, correction, or moral improvement.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The judge believed the young offender was reformable and sentenced him to a rehabilitation program instead of prison.
  • While the policy has flaws, experts agree the system is reformable with the right amendments.
  • She held an optimistic view that most people are reformable given proper guidance and support.

Advanced Usage

• In a theological or moral context: Often used to describe a person who can be redeemed from sin or error.
  • The concept of a reformable soul is central to many rehabilitative justice systems.
• Institutional or systemic context: Applied to organizations, laws, or structures that can be overhauled.
  • The committee's report concluded that the tax code was complex but ultimately reformable.

Variants and Related Words

• Reform (verb/noun): To make changes to improve something; the act or process of improving by change.
  • The government plans to reform the healthcare system.
• Reformation (noun): The action or process of reforming an institution or practice.
  • The Reformation was a major religious movement in the 16th century.
• Reformer (noun): A person who advocates or works for reform.
  • She was a noted social reformer.

Synonyms

• Correctable: Able to be corrected.
• Improvable: Capable of being made better.
• Redeemable: Capable of being saved from error or evil.
• Rectifiable: Able to be put right.

Antonyms

• Incorrigible: Not able to be corrected or reformed.
• Irreformable: Not susceptible to reform.
• Hopeless: Having no possibility of improvement.

Adjective

1. susceptible to improvement or reform
   • a redeemable sinner