noun
-
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:
Others disagree with Flanagan’s alteration to the story’s climactic scene, which shifts culpability for the prom massacre from Carrie to a character created expressly for the series.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026
Last week, a judge denied Singh’s request for alteration or revocation of bail.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
Is Julia’s changing perception a result of some fundamental alteration in her husband?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Initially declared a success with "no visible alteration" to the 70-metre-long tapestry following its arrival, France last week said two broken threads were spotted during a full condition check.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
The alteration — for example "flat five" or "sharp nine" — is listed in the chord symbol.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
This included growth in residential building in July, driven by a rise in home alterations and improvements as well as new construction of most dwelling types.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
The debate as to whether there should have been alterations to the leadership after the Ashes has become a moot point, because England have nevertheless ended in a post-Bazball era.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Most of these alterations are trivial, although one major change, coming near the end, is a very bad idea.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026
The physical changes in the muscles were accompanied by alterations in proteins and enzymes involved in the metabolic processes that produce energy for muscle activity.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026
If it is from the alterations they’ve made to their epidermis, I have nothing to help him.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
