Reformation means making important changes to improve something, especially an institution, system, or organization. When a school undergoes reformation, it might change its teaching methods, update its curriculum, or reorganize how classes work to help students learn better.

The word often appears in contexts where something has become corrupt, outdated, or ineffective. Prison reform focuses on helping inmates become better citizens rather than just punishing them. Tax reform means changing how a government collects and uses tax money to make the system fairer or more efficient.

The most famous example is the Reformation (with a capital R), a massive religious movement that began in the 1500s when Martin Luther and others challenged practices in the Catholic Church they believed had strayed from Christian teachings. This Reformation led to the formation of Protestant churches and changed European history forever.

When you reform something, you're not starting completely over. You're taking what exists and reshaping it into something better. A person can undergo reformation too. Someone might reform their habits or study methods. Unlike revolution, which tears everything down, reformation works within existing structures to make thoughtful improvements that address real problems.