1. Improvement (or an intended improvement) in the existing form or condition of institutions or practices etc.; intended to make a striking change for the better in social or political or religious affairs
   "The reformation of the education system was a major political issue"
    
2. Rescuing from error and returning to a rightful course
   "the reformation of delinquent children";
   - reclamation
    
3. (chemistry) conversion of one compound into another desired product via an industrial process, esp. producing smaller molecules or atoms (e.g. hydrogen from methane)
   "Steam reformation is a common method for producing hydrogen from natural gas"

1. A religious movement of the 16th century that began as an attempt to reform the Roman Catholic Church and resulted in the creation of Protestant churches
   - Protestant Reformation

1. Forming again (especially with improvements or removal of defects); renewing and reconstituting
   "The re-formation of the committee aimed to address previous shortcomings";
   - regeneration

Derived forms: re-formations, reformations

Type of: deliverance, delivery, improvement, melioration, reconstruction, religious movement, rescue, saving

Encyclopedia: Reformation