reinterpret

verb

re·​in·​ter·​pret ˌrē-ən-ˈtər-prət How to pronounce reinterpret (audio)
-pət
reinterpreted; reinterpreting; reinterprets

transitive verb

: to interpret again
specifically : to give a new or different interpretation to
reinterpretation noun

Examples of reinterpret in a Sentence

New information may force us to reinterpret the evidence. The director wants to reinterpret the old play for a modern audience.
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.
The trend is also being subtly reinterpreted for men, with thinner soles, softer uppers, and a more minimal silhouette. Laia Farran Graves, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 This interpretation offers grunge accents and a casualness that predates the decade that inspired them by completing the outfit with a blouse that reinterprets the classic plaid flannel. Paulina Berges, Glamour, 20 Apr. 2025 Meanwhile, Bukele’s party, with its legislative supermajority, fired the sitting Supreme Court justices, then stacked the bench with judges who reinterpreted the constitution to allow Bukele to seek reëlection to a second consecutive term. Danielle MacKey, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025 Born in Mali and raised in France, Fofana’s work reinterprets traditional West African dyeing techniques. Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reinterpret

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reinterpret was in 1611

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Cite this Entry

“Reinterpret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reinterpret. Accessed 8 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

reinterpret

verb
re·​in·​ter·​pret ˌrē-ən-ˈtər-prət How to pronounce reinterpret (audio)
: to interpret again
especially : to give a new or different interpretation to
reinterpretation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on reinterpret

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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