Meliorate: meaning, definitions and examples

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meliorate

 

[ ˈmɛlɪəˌreɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

to improve

To meliorate means to make something better or to improve a situation. It is often used in contexts relating to social policies, personal circumstances, or environmental conditions.

Synonyms

better, enhance, improve, upgrade

Examples of usage

  • The new policies were designed to meliorate the living conditions of the poor.
  • Efforts to meliorate public health have become increasingly important this decade.
  • He worked hard to meliorate the relationship between the two departments.
  • Community projects aim to meliorate the local environment for future generations.

Translations

Translations of the word "meliorate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 melhorar

🇮🇳 सुधारना

🇩🇪 verbessern

🇮🇩 memperbaiki

🇺🇦 покращувати

🇵🇱 ulepszać

🇯🇵 改善する

🇫🇷 améliorer

🇪🇸 mejorar

🇹🇷 iyileştirmek

🇰🇷 개선하다

🇸🇦 تحسين

🇨🇿 vylepšit

🇸🇰 vylepšiť

🇨🇳 改善

🇸🇮 izboljšati

🇮🇸 bæta

🇰🇿 жетілдіру

🇬🇪 გაუმჯობესება

🇦🇿 təkmilləşdirmək

🇲🇽 mejorar

Etymology

The term 'meliorate' is derived from the Latin word 'meliorare', which means 'to make better'. This Latin term itself comes from 'melior', meaning 'better'. The use of 'meliorate' in English dates back to the early 18th century and was primarily adopted in literary and formal contexts. Over time, it has been associated with any process which leads to improvement or enhancement, particularly in social, environmental, or economic aspects. Despite being a somewhat archaic term compared to simpler alternatives like 'improve', its use continues in academic discussions, particularly within fields such as sociology, public policy, and environmental science, where complexity often necessitates a nuanced vocabulary.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,207, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.