amendment

Etymology

From French amendement, from Late Latin amendamentum.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əˈmend.mənt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ʌˈmɛnd.mənt/

Noun

amendment (countable and uncountable, plural amendments)

1. An alteration or change for the better; correction of a fault or of faults; reformation of life by quitting vices.
2. In public bodies; Any alteration made or proposed to be made in a bill or motion that adds, changes, substitutes, or omits.
   • 2014, Ian Black, "Courts kept busy as Jordan works to crush support for Isis", The Guardian, 27 November 2014:

     Arrests and prosecutions intensified after Isis captured Mosul in June, but the groundwork had been laid by an earlier amendment to Jordan’s anti-terrorism law. It is estimated that 2,000 Jordanians have fought and 250 of them have died in Syria – making them the third largest Arab contingent in Isis after Saudi Arabians and Tunisians.

3. (law) Correction of an error in a writ or process.
4. An addition to and/or alteration to the Constitution.

   The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

   The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery.

5. That which is added; that which is used to increase or supplement something.

   a soil amendment

Further reading

• amendment in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• amendment in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• amendment at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

• mandement