reconstruction
noun
re·con·struc·tion
ˌrē-kən-ˈstrək-shən 
plural reconstructions
1
a
: the action of reconstructing : the act or process of rebuilding, repairing, or restoring something
reconstruction efforts to repair hurricane damage
the reconstruction of the dam
the reconstruction of postwar Europe
b
Reconstruction in U.S. history
: the period from 1865 to 1877 in which the southern states that had seceded during the American Civil War rejoined the United States
c
medical
: repair of an organ or body part by reconstructive surgery
knee/ligament reconstruction
2
a
: the re-creation or reimagining of something from the past especially by using information acquired through research
the historical reconstruction of an ancient village
the newspaper's reconstruction of the events
b
: a technical process by which scientific principles and techniques are applied to physical evidence in order to create an accurate reenactment or understanding of a past occurrence or event (such as an accident)
technology used in crime scene reconstruction
Examples of reconstruction in a Sentence
the reconstruction of the dam
the reconstruction of postwar Europe
reconstruction of the health-care system
They were able to determine the cause of the accident by careful reconstruction of the events leading up to it.
The police staged a reconstruction of the crime.
Recent Examples on the Web
The second generation joined the IRGC in the decade after the Iran-Iraq War, when the Revolutionary Guards expanded into carrying out lucrative postwar reconstruction projects.
—
Saeid Golkar, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2024
Now a new study provides the first full reconstruction of the living animal.
—David Bressan, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Information on the new cases has been published on the Interpol website, including facial reconstructions of some women and images of items found alongside their remains.
—Jack Guy, CNN, 8 Oct. 2024
For comparison, the U.S. spent $60.6 billion from 2003 through 2012 to fund Iraq’s security forces and civilian reconstruction, according to the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
—Lolita C. Baldor and Tara Copp, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reconstruction 
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Saeid Golkar, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2024
Now a new study provides the first full reconstruction of the living animal.
—David Bressan, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
Information on the new cases has been published on the Interpol website, including facial reconstructions of some women and images of items found alongside their remains.
—Jack Guy, CNN, 8 Oct. 2024
For comparison, the U.S. spent $60.6 billion from 2003 through 2012 to fund Iraq’s security forces and civilian reconstruction, according to the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
—Lolita C. Baldor and Tara Copp, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for reconstruction
Dictionary Entries Near reconstruction
Cite this Entry
“Reconstruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconstruction. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reconstruction
noun
re·con·struc·tion
ˌrē-kən-ˈstrək-shən
1
a
: the action of reconstructing : the state of being reconstructed
b
often capitalized
: the reorganization and reestablishment of the Confederate states in the Union after the American Civil War
2
: something reconstructed
Medical Definition
reconstruction
noun
re·con·struc·tion
ˌrē-kən-ˈstrək-shən
: repair of an organ or part by reconstructive surgery
breast reconstruction
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