revitalization

American

[ree-vahyt-l-ahy-zey-shuhn] / riˌvaɪt l aɪˈzeɪ ʃən /

especially British, revitalisation

noun

the act or process of giving new life or fresh vitality or energy to someone or something.

New restaurants can be an anchor in the revitalization of a neglected or run-down neighborhood.

Etymology

Origin of revitalization

revitaliz(e) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Explanation

Revitalization is the act of bringing something back to life or restoring its health. The revitalization of your city's ailing downtown may start slowly, with a few new businesses moving in. You can think of revitalization as a kind of renewal or revival; something that's died or suffered from a lack of vitality is imbued with new spirit or health. The revitalization of a country's economy often follows a long recession, when jobs return and people start spending money again. After a bad sunburn, soothing aloe lotion will help speed your skin's revitalization. At the heart of this word is vital, from the Latin vita, or "life."

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

President Trump has lauded Rodriguez’s decision to free prisoners as a goodwill gesture as she works to steer the country toward an economic revitalization and a democratic transition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Emmanuel Macron rose to the French Presidency on a promise of reform and economic revitalization.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

The collaboration became part of a national initiative focused on regional revitalization and the "branding of local resources," positioning the project as both a scientific and cultural effort.

From Science Daily • Nov. 3, 2025

AI has been a major catalyst for Alibaba’s revitalization.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

Her work on language revitalization led Congress to pass the Native American Languages Preservation Act.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023