enhancement

American

[en-hans-muhnt, -hahns-] / ɛnˈhæns mənt, -ˈhɑns- /

noun

the state or quality of being elevated, heightened, or increased, as in quality, degree, intensity, or value.

The latest update brings many performance enhancements, finishing touches, and bug fixes.
Combining solar power systems with energy storage promises significant cost savings and value enhancements for both technologies.

Other Word Forms

self-enhancement noun

Etymology

Origin of enhancement

enhance ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )

Explanation

An enhancement makes something better. An enhancement to your recipe makes it taste better. An enhancement to your outfit makes it look snappier. An enhancement to your camera lens makes it take clearer photos. The noun enhancement comes from the verb enhance, meaning "to increase or improve," and it can describe anything that's an improvement to the quality or value of something. People might make surgical enhancements to their faces and bodies to make themselves look better — otherwise known as plastic surgery — although this type of enhancement that is somewhat controversial. Those who do it believe it's an enhancement to their quality of life, since they feel better about themselves.

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Vocabulary lists containing enhancement

Vocabulary from "There Will Never Be an Age of Artificial Intimacy," by Sherry Turkle

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The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

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Lessons 2–3

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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.

The Ministry of Finance will also hold a liquidity enhancement auction of about 250 billion yen in 20-, 30- and 40-year JGBs Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

She is also facing a sentence enhancement, according to police.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2026

Experts warned that the line between enhancement and content generation, accidentally or intentionally, was a thin one.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

Scientists refer to this effect as the momentum enhancement factor.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

“Brains are pretty much illegal. Only biodigital enhancement up to forty-nine percent is allowed to restore some lost function and that’s it.”

From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023