reclamation

noun

rec·​la·​ma·​tion ˌre-klə-ˈmā-shən 

: the act or process of reclaiming: such as

a

: reformation, rehabilitation

b

: restoration to use : recovery

Synonyms

• recapture
• recoupment
• recovery
• repossession
• retrieval

Examples of reclamation in a Sentence

pumped water out of the field as part of the land reclamation program designed to provide farmers with more farmland

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the last few seasons, the club has identified pitchers that many viewed as reclamation projects and turned them into meaningful contributors with some tweaks. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025

That’s a lot of faith, and trust to place into a 25-year-old who can only be best described as a reclamation project. —Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025

Image However, this resurgent moment in R&B may also be time for a reclamation. —Adam Bradley D’angelo Lovell Williams Milton David Dixon Iii, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2025

The reelection of President Donald Trump and the Republican reclamation of both chambers represents a crucial opportunity to do better, and to reset federal policies on unlawful antisemitism. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French réclamation, from Latin reclamation-, reclamatio, from reclamare

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for reclamation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

reclamation

noun

rec·​la·​ma·​tion ˌrek-lə-ˈmā-shən 

: the act or process of reclaiming : the state of being reclaimed

Legal Definition

reclamation

noun

rec·​la·​ma·​tion ˌre-klə-ˈmā-shən 

1

: the act or process of reclaiming

the reclamation of goods delivered to an insolvent buyer

2

: a right to reclaim (as under commercial law)