According to the OED, 'reform' is defined as,
[mass noun] the action or process of reforming an institution or practice.
The same definition appears in its entry for 'reformation'.
In terms of usage, is there any difference between the two words? Are they completely interchangeable, or is one preferable over the other?
Would 'Progressive reforms" mean the same as 'Progressive reformations'?
Best Answer
I would suggest that reform is frequently used to refer to a specific change itself, whereas reformation is more often used to denote the set of changes made.
In the sentence above, "Would 'Progressive reforms" mean the same as 'Progressive reformations'?" the phrase 'progressive reforms' would be used to chronicle the specific changes, and would be more appropriate than the alternate phrase, 'progressive reformations.'