Forward　osmosis　(FO)　has　played　an　important　role　in　alleviating　the　problems　caused　by　freshwater　shortage　and　water　contamination　in　recent　years.　However,　issues　of　low　water　permeability,　reverse　solute　diffusion,　concentration　polarization　and　membrane　fouling　are　still　widely　present　in　FO　processes.　These　challenges　are　the　current　research　focus　in　exploring　novel　FO　membranes.　Fabricating　FO　membranes　from　chemically　modified　commercial　polymers　is　a　relatively　novel　approach　and　has　proven　effective　in　obtaining　appropriate　FO　membranes.　This　paper　focuses　on　the　progress　of　FO　membranes　made　specially　from　chemically　modified　polymer　materials.　First　of　all,　a　brief　overview　of　commercial　polymers　commonly　used　for　FO　membrane　fabrication　is　provided.　Secondly,　the　chemical　modification　strategies　and　synthesis　routes　of　novel　polymer　materials　as　well　as　the　resultant　FO　membrane　performance　are　presented.　The　strengths　and　weaknesses　of　chemical　modifications　on　polymer　materials　are　assessed.　Then,　typical　FO　applications　facilitated　by　the　FO　membranes　made　from　modified　polymer　materials　are　exemplified.　Finally,　challenges　and　future　directions　in　exploring　novel　polymers　through　chemical　modifications　for　FO　membrane　fabrication　are　highlighted.　This　review　may　provide　new　insights　into　the　future　advancement　of　both　novel　membrane　materials　and　FO　membranes.　©　2019　Walter　de　Gruyter　GmbH,　Berlin/Boston　2019.