What does reapplication mean?
Reapplication means applying again, usually by making a new or renewed request after an earlier application, rejection, or attempt. In administrative and academic settings, it often refers to a second submission of the same kind of form, often with the aim of meeting the requirements more successfully. The word can also describe applying a rule, treatment, or principle again in changed circumstances. It is more formal and precise than simply saying “applying again,” because it emphasizes the renewed act rather than merely the repetition of a task. Related forms include the verb “reapply” and the noun “reapplicant.” The term is especially useful when discussing procedures, eligibility, benefits, immigration, employment, and applications for opportunities where a previous request has been declined or has expired.
nounThe act of applying again, especially by submitting a second request or using an application a second time. It can also refer to the renewed application of a rule, treatment, or principle.
- The act of applying again or making a second application.
- A renewed application of a rule, treatment, or principle.
"After his initial request was rejected, he prepared a reapplication with additional supporting documents."
"The scholarship committee allowed students to submit a reapplication if they had improved their academic records."
"The reapplication of the policy in warmer months led to a noticeable increase in demand."
Used when referring to multiple renewed applications or second submissions.
"The office received several reapplications after announcing the new eligibility rules."
Sometimes persistence is not a matter of starting over but of making a second application more convincing than the first.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of reapplication
“Reapplication” is formed in English by combining the prefix re-, meaning “again,” with “application,” from Latin applicare, “to apply, put to, or fasten.” The prefix has long been used in English to indicate repetition or a renewed action. The related English forms “apply,” “applicant,” and “applicable” reflect the same Latin root, while “reapplication” specifically adds the idea of doing something again.
Related word forms
How reapplication is actually used
The word is relatively formal and is most common in administrative, legal, academic, and policy contexts. It can sound more natural as “a reapplication of” or “submit a reapplication” than as a standalone term.
Easily confused with reapplication
An application is the original request or act of applying, whereas a reapplication is a further or renewed attempt to apply.
A renewal usually extends or reactivates something already in force, while a reapplication may be a new submission of the same kind of request.