reinstate

Reinstate is a verb meaning to restore someone or something to a previous position, status, or condition after removal, suspension, or deactivation. The term is used across contexts such as employment, law, policy, licensing, and benefits, where an individual or item is returned to a former state or entitlement that had been withdrawn.

In employment, to reinstate an employee means restoring them to their job after termination or suspension, often following a review or dispute. In legal or regulatory contexts, a court or agency may reinstate a claim, license, or rule that had been set aside or revoked. In policy or governance, a program or measure may be reinstated after changes are reconsidered. In technology, configurations or access privileges may be reinstated to reflect a previous setup.

Etymology: reinstate derives from re- (again) plus instate (to place in a position or state), with instate from Latin instaurare via Old French. The word dates from the 16th century and is closely related to reinstatement, the noun form.