In software engineering, an amelioration pattern is an anti-pattern formed when an existing software design pattern was edited (i.e. rearranged, added or deleted) to better suit a particular problem so as to achieve some further effect or behavior. In this sense, an amelioration pattern is transformational in character.

• Judy Van Biljon; Paula Kotzé; Karen Renaud; Marilyn McGee; Ahmed Seffah (4 October 2004). "The use of anti-patterns in human computer interaction: wise or Ill-advised?". Proceedings of the 2004 Annual Research Conference of the South African Institute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists on IT Research in Developing Countries (SAICSIT '04): 176–185.