amendment

noun

amend·​ment ə-ˈmen(d)-mənt How to pronounce amendment (audio)
1
a
: the process of altering or amending a law or document (such as a constitution) by parliamentary or constitutional procedure
rights that were granted by amendment of the Constitution
b
: an alteration proposed or effected by this process
a constitutional amendment
2
: the act of amending something : correction
3
: a material (such as compost or sand) that aids plant growth indirectly by improving the condition of the soil
soil amendments

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What is a constitutional amendment?

An amendment is essentially a correction. It comes in many varieties, up to and including the process of altering something through either parliamentary or constitutional procedure. In the United States, the word is often used specifically of a change to the U.S. Constitution. A constitutional amendment may be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives or through a constitutional convention with majority votes in two-thirds of state legislatures. Once it is ratified by Congress, it must be approved by three-fourths (i.e., 38 of 50) of the states.

Examples of amendment in a Sentence

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.
With the Bitcoin Law amendments and the announced end of El Salvador bitcoin accumulation, the narrative about Bitcoin and the Central American country is under a transformation. Javier Bastardo, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 Another amendment added in the Senate exempted a list of common rifles, some of which are used for hunting. Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 2 Mar. 2025 There's one more week left in Utah's legislative session and lawmakers don't want a repeat of last year's constitutional amendment snafu. Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025 Yet the final version of the legislation that the mayor signed days after the vote did not include Russell’s amendment. Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for amendment

Word History

Etymology

see amend

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of amendment was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Amendment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amendment. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

amendment

noun
amend·​ment ə-ˈmen(d)-mənt How to pronounce amendment (audio)
1
: the act or process of amending especially for the better
2
: a change in wording or meaning especially in a law, bill, or motion

Legal Definition

amendment

noun
amend·​ment
1
: an act of amending
especially : an alteration in wording
amendments to cure the defect in the pleading
2
: an alteration proposed or put into effect by parliamentary or constitutional procedure
the Congress…shall propose amendments to this ConstitutionU.S. Constitution art. V

More from Merriam-Webster on amendment

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