A reformer is someone who works to improve or fix problems in society, institutions, or systems. When something isn't working well or treats people unfairly, a reformer pushes for change to make it better.

Unlike a revolutionary who wants to tear everything down and start over, a reformer believes the system can be fixed through specific changes. When Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony fought for women's right to vote in the 1800s, they were reformers working to change unjust voting laws. When Horace Mann pushed to create free public schools for more children in America, he was an education reformer.

Reformers see problems others might ignore or accept: unsafe working conditions, unfair rules, inefficient processes, or outdated laws. Then they work persistently to change them, often facing resistance from people who benefit from keeping things as they are. A reformer might tackle big issues like civil rights or smaller ones like improving school lunch programs.

The word carries a sense of patience and determination. Reform takes time. A successful reformer combines vision (seeing how things could be better) with practical action (figuring out how to actually make those changes happen). Noticing something unfair in your classroom and working with others to change the rule is an example of thinking like a reformer.