Meaning & use

reconversion

noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˌriːkənˈvɜːʃn/
US/ˌriːkənˈvɜːrʒn/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    The process of changing something back to an earlier state or giving it a new purpose.

    Grammar: No plural when talking about the process in general: reconversion of the site took years.

    Patterns

    • reconversion of something
    • reconversion into something
    • reconversion to something

    The reconversion of the old factory into apartments took three years.

    Government funding supported the reconversion of military land for public parks.

    After the war, the reconversion of industry to peacetime production was slow.

  2. nouncountable

    A single case of changing a building, machine, or system to a different use.

    Grammar: Use 'a' or a plural when counting specific projects: two reconversions.

    Patterns

    • a reconversion of something
    • carry out a reconversion

    The city approved a reconversion of the warehouse into a school.

    Two reconversions of former army bases are now under way.

Word forms

pluralreconversions

Common combinations

reconversion of a building
The reconversion of the building cost millions.
industrial reconversion
Industrial reconversion created new jobs in the region.
reconversion into housing
The reconversion into housing changed the neighborhood.
economic reconversion
Economic reconversion followed the closure of the mines.

Synonyms and how they differ

conversion
More general and does not suggest returning to an earlier state; 'reconversion' stresses the change back or reuse.
repurposing
Focuses on giving a new use, often for buildings; it is less formal than 'reconversion'.

Word family

reconvert verb
To change something back or give it a new purpose.
convert verb
To change something into a different form or use.
conversion noun
The act of changing something into another form or use.

Commonly confused: reconversion or conversion?

reconversion vs conversion

'Conversion' is any change; 'reconversion' usually means changing back or reusing something after its first purpose ends.

Practice

The ___ of the old mill into offices created space for fifty workers.

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