reeducate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, sometimes politically loaded or technical.
Quick answer
What does “reeducate” mean?
To teach someone again, or to teach them new skills, attitudes, or behaviours, often to correct or update their existing knowledge.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To teach someone again, or to teach them new skills, attitudes, or behaviours, often to correct or update their existing knowledge.
1. To rehabilitate or reform someone's beliefs, often in a political or social context (e.g., reeducation camps). 2. To retrain someone professionally for a new role or industry. 3. To deliberately alter public perception or understanding on a topic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'reeducate' is standard in AmE; 're-educate' with a hyphen is more common in BrE, though the solid form is also accepted. The hyphenated form is generally preferred in UK formal writing.
Connotations
Identical in core meaning. The political sense is universally understood.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties. More likely to appear in news, policy, and academic texts than in casual conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “reeducate” in a Sentence
[Subject] reeducates [Object (person/group)][Subject] reeducates [Object] in [Topic/Skill][Subject] reeducates [Object] about [Topic][Subject] is reeducated [to do something]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reeducate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government launched a scheme to re-educate workers in green technologies.
- After the scandal, the company had to re-educate its entire staff on ethics compliance.
American English
- The program aims to reeducate former inmates for the job market.
- We need to reeducate the public about the benefits of vaccination.
adverb
British English
- N/A (Standard form 're-educationally' is extremely rare and non-standard).
- N/A
adjective
British English
- He was sent to a controversial re-education centre.
- The re-education process was long and challenging.
American English
- The reeducation program faced funding cuts.
- They discussed reeducation policies at the summit.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for large-scale employee retraining during digital transformation or merger integration.
Academic
Used in sociology, political science, and education studies to discuss systematic belief alteration.
Everyday
Rare in casual talk. Might be used humorously: "I need to reeducate my taste buds to like healthy food."
Technical
Used in vocational training, HR, and political discourse about rehabilitation programmes.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reeducate”
- Confusing 'reeducate' with 'reiterate' (to repeat).
- Overusing the term for simple 'teaching' or 'explaining'.
- Misspelling as 're-educate' in AmE contexts where solid form is standard.
- Using it in a positive sense without awareness of its potential negative political connotations.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In contexts like professional development, HR, or public information campaigns, it is neutral or positive. It gains negative connotations primarily in historical/political contexts referring to forced ideological change.
'Educate' implies providing knowledge for the first time. 'Reeducate' implies a process of changing or overriding previously held knowledge, skills, or attitudes. It presupposes an existing, now incorrect or outdated, state of understanding.
American English strongly prefers 'reeducate'. British English style guides often recommend 're-educate' to avoid the awkward double 'e', but the solid form is increasingly common. Be consistent within your document.
Yes, reflexively. For example: "After travelling, I had to reeducate myself about my own culture's assumptions." It emphasises a conscious, active process of personal change.
To teach someone again, or to teach them new skills, attitudes, or behaviours, often to correct or update their existing knowledge.
Reeducate is usually formal, sometimes politically loaded or technical. in register.
Reeducate: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈedʒ.ʊ.keɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈedʒ.ə.keɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A reeducation of the public”
- “Sent to reeducation”
- “A reeducation campaign”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE + EDUCATE. You are giving education AGAIN (RE-), but this time to CHANGE the first education.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A BOOK THAT CAN BE REWRITTEN. SOCIETY IS A PATIENT THAT NEEDS TREATMENT (reeducation as therapy/cure).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'reeducate' MOST likely to be perceived negatively?