noun
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an adjustment, change, or modification
-
the act of altering or state of being altered
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of alteration
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English alteracioun, from Medieval Latin alterātiōn-, stem of alterātiō; equivalent to alter + -ation
Explanation
The pants are too long, the jacket too tight and the vest is too short. Looks like your suit is in need of some serious alteration, or adjustment. No one knows alterations like tailors. All they do is adjust, modify and otherwise alter people's ill fitting clothes. But hemlines aren't the only things that can undergo alteration. Savvy scientists may someday make alterations to genetic sequencing — just like Dr. Jekyll underwent some serious alterations to become Mr. Hyde.
Vocabulary lists containing alteration
Vocabulary from The Articles of Confederation
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But in another alteration, Damon’s Odysseus fires an arrow into the already blinded Cyclops’ eye as he escapes, giving the monster’s father, Poseidon, a new reason to make his journey home miserable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
This alteration doesn’t make the film’s action less compelling, merely PG-rated and all-ages friendly.
From Salon ● May 17, 2026
"The method captured not only the distinction between life and nonlife, but also degrees of preservation and alteration."
From Science Daily ● May 12, 2026
Eve Higgins replaces Nancy McGillivray, who is not involved in the matchday squad, at centre in the sole alteration from the 26-7 defeat against France in Clermont two weeks ago.
From BBC ● May 7, 2026
The refreshment of alteration is welcome after the staleness of inactivity.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Castillo, at a hearing earlier this year, said she understands the concept of gene-editing animals for health reasons, but doesn’t want to see the alterations for cosmetic reasons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
The renovation also included some alterations to the lavish interiors of the Qatari royal family’s private plane.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
For women with BRCA1 gene alterations, those lifetime risks increase to 72% for breast cancer and 44% for ovarian.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
They will remain in the next iteration, with some landscape alterations to make the scene more scientifically accurate, Bettison-Varga said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026
“And it hardly needs any alterations, which is good. We don't have much time.”
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
