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réorganisation

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Etymology and origin of the French word réorganisation

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1791 letters of Madame Roland More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
French ré-,organe,-iser,-ation
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French organiser
German organisieren
Romanian organiza
French réorganiser
French réorganisation
From the same root
French organisation ← organiser

Pronunciation

  • /ʁe.ɔʁ.ɡa.ni.za.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

réorganisation f (plural réorganisations)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French réorganiser + -ation.[2][3][4] Wiktionary analyses it as ré- and organisation.[1] Both the verb and the noun appeared in 1791, during the Revolution.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in 1791 in the letters of Madame Roland, meaning the act of organizing something anew.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It was also used by Linguet before 1794, and Mercier included it in his Néologie of 1801.[2] Littré defines it as the act of organizing again and its result.[6] In sociology réorganisation sociale is the restoring of consensus among the members of a group after a phase of social désorganisation.[2]

Timeline

  • 1791 – First record, in Madame Roland's letters.[2][3]
  • 1791 – The verb réorganiser appears in the same year.[5][2]
  • Before 1794 – Used by Linguet.[2]
  • 1801 – Mercier lists it in his Néologie.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The act of reorganizing, or its result: la réorganisation d'un service.[4][2][7]
  2. (sociology) Réorganisation sociale: the restoring of consensus in a group after a period of disorganization.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Réorganisation.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/r%C3%A9organisation. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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