reintegration
UK[ˌriːɪntɪˈɡreɪʃən]US[ˌriːɪntɪˈɡreɪʃən]
n
The process of restoring unity, wholeness, or normal function to something that was previously divided or separated.
n
The action of bringing someone back into a group, community, or society after a period of absence or exclusion.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
integrate
ion
re
again
integrate
make whole
ion
action/state
Etymology
The word 'reintegration' is built upon the core concept of making something whole again. Its journey begins with the Latin adjective integer, meaning "whole, complete, or untouched," which itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European root tag- ("to touch, handle"). From integer came the verb integrare, "to make whole or renew." The English verb 'integrate' was formed from this, signifying the act of combining parts into a whole. By adding the Latin prefix re- ("again") and the noun-forming suffix -ion, the word 'reintegration' was created to specifically denote the process or state of restoring wholeness or unity after a prior division or separation, perfectly capturing its modern abstract meaning.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + integrate (make whole) + ion (action/state)
- re: Latin origin. A prefix meaning "again" or "back."
- integrate: From Latin integratus, the past participle of integrare ("to make whole, renew"). The root is integer ("whole, untouched").
- ion: Latin suffix (-ionem), forming nouns indicating an action, process, or state.
Examples
The program focuses on the social reintegration of former soldiers into civilian life.
After the merger, the reintegration of the two departments proved to be a complex challenge.
Successful therapy often involves the reintegration of repressed memories into the patient's conscious awareness.