amendment

noun

amend·​ment ə-ˈmen(d)-mənt 

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

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

• correction
• emendation

Examples of amendment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Senate will vote on amendments to the bill, which may include removing language related to state attorneys general. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025

Aldermen voted 39-11 to table the vote on an amendment from Southwest Side Alds. —Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025

More votes are expected this week, including on potential amendments. —Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025

The filing also details various financial agreements, including loan agreements with Simplot Taiwan Inc. and Trung Doan, and amendments to convertible unsecured promissory notes. SemiLEDs does not anticipate cash dividend payments to common stockholders in the near future. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see amend

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

amendment

noun

amend·​ment ə-ˈmen(d)-mənt 

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 Constitution

—U.S. Constitution art. V