transformative

[ trans-fawr-muh-tiv ]

adjective

1. causing a radical and typically positive change in outlook, character, form, or condition: Voting is a culturally and socially transformative action.

   It's difficult to put into words how transformative and enriching it is to study abroad.

   Voting is a culturally and socially transformative action.

Other Words From

• un·trans·form·a·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of transformative¹

First recorded in 1660–70; from Medieval Latin transformātīvus, equivalent to Latin transformāt-, stem of transformāre, + -īvus -ive ( def ); transform ( def )

Example Sentences

Xu, who is already working to further refine and develop this model, said she believes that the collaboration between clinicians and computer scientists in this study has the potential to be transformative across the field of medicine.

From Science Daily

Given the artist’s transformative impact, I wish this otherwise engaging documentary asked it.

From Los Angeles Times

“The kinds of changes that would be necessary would need to be transformative rather than incremental,” said Phillips, a co-author of the study.

From Los Angeles Times

As in 2016, the people seemed unready for the transformative potential of a woman’s leadership, much less a woman of color — a vision that remains, tragically, beyond the nation’s collective horizon.

From Salon

As one of the few labs in the world studying Sandhoff and Tay-Sachs, Igdoura and his team are optimistic that this discovery could be transformative.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• life-changing
• transformational