alteration

[awl-tuh-rey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of altering; the state of being altered.

   Alteration will improve the dress.

2. a change; modification or adjustment.

   There has been an alteration in our plans.

alteration

/ ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. an adjustment, change, or modification

2. the act of altering or state of being altered

Other Word Forms

• prealteration noun
• proalteration adjective
• realteration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of alteration¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English alteracioun, from Medieval Latin alterātiōn-, stem of alterātiō; equivalent to alter + -ation

Example Sentences

“Totalitarianism demands the continuous alteration of the past and in the long run probably demands a disbelief in the very existence of objective truth.”

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“It was just a very small genetic alteration that results in quite a profound change in the immune system.”

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The expected changes to settlement rules for refugees will be accompanied by alterations to family reunion conditions.

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But this time, the use of what appeared to be AI-generated alterations struck a nerve.

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This is the 45th edition of the biennial contest and the visitors have made fewer alterations to their team than in any previous contest in the 98-year history of the event.

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Related Words

• adjustment 
• amendment 
• conversion 
• diversification 
• modification 
• mutation 
• revision 
• transformation 
• variance 
• variation