Ameliorate
Word of the Day
What is Ameliorate?
verb
To make something better; to improve.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Chosen to honor practical optimism — fixing what can be fixed.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
New policies aim to ameliorate air pollution in the city.
Community support can ameliorate the effects of crisis.
They launched a pilot program to ameliorate learning loss.
Word Origins
From French améliorer and Latin melior “better”
Often used in policy, medicine, and ethics to indicate mitigation rather than cure.
First appearance in English: 18th century
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
-
Noun:
The program led to measurable amelioration in outcomes.
-
Verb:
Subsidies may alleviate immediate costs.
-
Verb:
They mitigated risk through diversification.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: mejorar
- French: améliorer
- German: verbessern
- Italian: migliorare
- Portuguese: melhorar
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Alleviate
Eases pain or burden; “ameliorate” improves the overall condition.
Mitigate
Reduces severity; “ameliorate” aims at betterment.
Remediate
Fixes specific faults; “ameliorate” is broader improvement.
Fun Facts
- “Meliorism” is the belief that the world can be made better by human effort.
- Legal settlements often include measures to ameliorate future harm.
Cultural Usage
- Reforms are designed to ameliorate systemic disparities.
- Therapies ameliorate symptoms when cures are unavailable.
Common Mistakes
Often confused with “alleviate”; “ameliorate” improves overall state, “alleviate” eases symptoms.
Micro Story
Targeted scholarships can ameliorate inequities in access to education.