reintegration: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical, Professional
Quick answer
What does “reintegration” mean?
The process of restoring someone or something to a state of unity, wholeness, or functional membership within a group, system, or society after a period of separation or exclusion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process of restoring someone or something to a state of unity, wholeness, or functional membership within a group, system, or society after a period of separation or exclusion.
The act of making parts fit back together into a coherent whole; the restoration of harmonious relations or functional coordination after disintegration, conflict, or isolation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more frequent in UK English in post-conflict social policy contexts (e.g., Northern Ireland).
Connotations
Neutral to positive. In both varieties, suggests a desirable outcome of a managed process.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in general discourse but common in specialized fields like psychology, social work, criminal justice, and systems engineering.
Grammar
How to Use “reintegration” in a Sentence
reintegration of [NP] into [NP]reintegration into [NP][NP]'s reintegrationVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reintegration” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The government's policy focuses on the reintegration of offenders into the community.
- The reintegration of the devolved region was a complex constitutional process.
American English
- The veteran's reintegration into civilian life was supported by a non-profit organization.
- Data reintegration after the merger posed significant IT challenges.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The successful reintegration of the acquired company's staff into our corporate culture is a top priority.
Academic
The study examines the factors influencing the social reintegration of former combatants in post-conflict zones.
Everyday
After his year abroad, his reintegration into the local friend group took a bit of time.
Technical
The software update requires the complete reintegration of the legacy database modules into the new architecture.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reintegration”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “reintegration”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reintegration”
- Misspelling as 'reintergration' or 'reintergration'.
- Using it to mean simple 'return' without the process of becoming part of a whole again.
- Confusing with 'rehabilitation' (which is broader and can be a component of reintegration).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Integration' is the initial process of combining into a whole. 'Reintegration' implies a return to a state of wholeness after a period of separation or breakdown.
Yes, it's common in technical contexts (e.g., software, data, modular systems) to describe making separate components work together as a unified whole again.
'Into' is the most common ('reintegration into society'). 'Of' is also used to specify what is being reintegrated ('reintegration of refugees').
It is generally positive, describing a constructive process. However, the process itself can be described as 'difficult' or 'challenging'.
The process of restoring someone or something to a state of unity, wholeness, or functional membership within a group, system, or society after a period of separation or exclusion.
Reintegration is usually formal, academic, technical, professional in register.
Reintegration: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriː.ɪn.tɪˈɡreɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriˌɪn.təˈɡreɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A bridge back to society”
- “To turn the page”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think RE + INTEGRATION. You are doing 'integration' again (RE-) to make something whole once more.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A BODY / A SYSTEM IS A BODY (Healing a wound, making a body whole again).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically a goal of reintegration?