transformative

adjective

trans·​for·​ma·​tive tran(t)s-ˈfȯr-mə-tiv How to pronounce transformative (audio)
: causing or able to cause an important and lasting change in someone or something
a transformative experience
And she'll tell anyone who asks about her transformative weeks working for UNICEF in Congo and Cambodia.—S. L. Price
It is increasingly hard to escape the conclusion that American politics has entered one of those rare transformative moments that shape the content of our public discourse and the direction of our governance for generations.—Doug Ireland

Examples of transformative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This transformative magic of movement is at the core of the American mythos and the heart of our cultural identity. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026 Some, like insulin and GLP-1 agonists such as semaglutide, are among the most transformative medicines of our era. — Jerome Adams, STAT, 6 July 2026 The summer’s political bestseller portrays him as a figure whose transformative potential has been utterly derailed by hubris. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 3 July 2026 Global strategist merging cultural insight with transformative business growth. — David Mahbub, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for transformative

Word History

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of transformative was in 1668

Rhymes for transformative

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transformation temperature
transformative
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Cite this Entry

“Transformative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transformative. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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