# reformed

/ɹɪˈfɔɹmd/ (US) · /ɹɪfˈɔːmd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reformed
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. changed for the better

adjective · CEFR B2

having changed your behavior to be a better person.

For teachers: having abandoned previous bad habits or criminal behavior in favor of a more moral or law-abiding lifestyle.

- The reformed criminal now spends his time helping teenagers stay out of trouble.
- As a reformed gambler, he now advocates for stricter regulations on betting shops and provides support for those struggling with addiction.

### 2. religious tradition

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

relating to a group of Protestant churches, often those following the ideas of John Calvin.

For teachers: pertaining to the Protestant churches that separated from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation, specifically those following Calvinist theology.

- They attend a Reformed church that has very traditional services.
- The scholar specialized in the history of Reformed theology, focusing on how it diverged from Lutheranism regarding the nature of the Eucharist.

### 4. military status

adjective · CEFR C2 · British English · Archaic

kept in service after a military group has been broken up.

For teachers: referring to an officer or soldier retained in service, often on reduced pay, following the disbandment of their specific unit.

- The reformed officers remained on the payroll even though their regiment no longer existed.
- Following the treaty, several reformed captains were kept on half-pay until new positions could be found for them in the standing army.

## Examples

- He is a reformed smoker who now runs marathons.
- The program helps reformed criminals find steady work and reintegrate into the local community.
- The politician's platform focused heavily on his identity as a reformed radical, arguing that his past mistakes gave him unique insight into the needs of the disenfranchised.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.