# reinstate

/ˌɹiɪnˈsteɪt/ (US) · /ɹˌiːɪnstˈeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reinstate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to restore to a job or rank

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to give someone their former job or position back after they were removed from it.

For teachers: to restore a person to a former position, office, or rank. Transitive; requires a direct object representing the person being restored.

- The company agreed to reinstate the worker after the union proved he was fired unfairly.
- Following a thorough internal investigation that cleared him of all charges, the board voted unanimously to reinstate the CEO to his former role.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice in news reports regarding employment disputes.

### 2. to bring back a rule or system

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to start using a rule, law, or system again that was stopped in the past.

For teachers: to re-establish or bring back into use a law, policy, or practice that had been abolished or suspended.

- The city decided to reinstate the old parking rules to reduce traffic in the center.
- The government faced significant public pressure to reinstate the environmental protections that had been rolled back during the previous administration.

Usage: Commonly takes abstract nouns like 'policy', 'law', 'ban', or 'requirement' as objects.

## Examples

- The company decided to reinstate the manager after the investigation.
- After the protest, the university agreed to reinstate the student union's funding for the upcoming semester.
- The government faced significant public pressure to reinstate the environmental protections that had been repealed during the previous administration's term.

---

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.