reformar

Reformar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese with meanings centered on changing something to improve, correct, or adapt it. It derives from the Latin reformare, formed by re- (again) and formare (to shape). The word encompasses physical renovation as well as impersonal or institutional modification, such as policy or law.

In Spanish, reformar commonly covers renovations of buildings and alterations of plans, rules, or institutions. Typical phrases include reformar una casa (to renovate a house) and reformar una ley or reformar una institución (to amend or overhaul a law or institution). In legal contexts, reformar una sentencia can mean to modify or overturn a court ruling, depending on jurisdiction. The related noun is reforma.

In Portuguese, reformar mirrors the same broad sense: to renovate or remodel a physical space, to modify policies or rules, and to alter a law or regulation. Examples include reformar um edifício (to renovate a building) and reformar uma lei (to amend a law). The noun reforma is used for the concept of reform.

Reformar is distinct from reformular, which means to reformulate or rephrase, and from reforma as a noun meaning the process or result of reform. The term is widely used across domains such as construction, government, and law, with nuances depending on language and legal tradition.