interfere

American  

[in-ter-feer] / ˌɪn tərˈfɪər /

verb (used without object)

interfered, interfering

1. to come into opposition, as one thing with another, especially with the effect of hampering action or procedure (often followed bywith ).

   Constant distractions interfere with work.

2. to take part in the affairs of others; meddle (often followed by with orin ).

   to interfere in another's life.

   Synonyms:

   interlope, encroach, intrude, pry

3. (of things) to strike against each other, or one against another, so as to hamper or hinder action; come into physical collision.

4. to interpose or intervene for a particular purpose.

   Synonyms:

   intercede

5. to strike one foot or leg against another in moving, as a horse.

6. Sports.

   1. to obstruct the action of an opposing player in a way barred by the rules.

   2. Football. to run interference for a teammate carrying the ball.

7. Physics. to cause interference.

8. to clash; come in collision; be in opposition.

   The claims of two nations may interfere.

9. Law. to claim earlier invention when several patent requests for the same invention are being filed.

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verb phrase

1. interfere with to molest sexually.

interfere British  

/ ˌɪntəˈfɪə /

verb

1. (often foll by in) to interpose, esp meddlesomely or unwarrantedly; intervene

2. (often foll by with) to come between or in opposition; hinder; obstruct

3. euphemistic (foll by with) to assault sexually

4. to strike one against the other, as a horse's legs

5. physics to cause or produce interference

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Other Word Forms

• interferer
  noun
• interfering
  adjective
• interferingly
  adverb
• noninterfering
  adjective
• noninterferingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of interfere

First recorded in 1520–30; inter- + -fere (from Latin ferīre “to strike”); modeled on Middle French s'entreferir

Explanation

To interfere is to try to stop something from happening. If you get into a fight on the street, people passing by might try to interfere so no one gets hurt. Many countries resent it when other countries interfere (get involved) in their internal affairs, just as people often dislike it when others interfere in their personal affairs. In this sense interfere is the opposite of minding one's business. On airplanes you're not allowed to use cellphones because, it's said, they interfere with the plane’s navigational systems.

Example Sentences

Kennett says the device works without electrical power and is engineered so vibrations are isolated so as not to interfere with fragile experiments or the structural integrity of a vessel in space.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

Caregiving can also interfere differently with work and identity for some men.

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

In an interview, Hishida said medicines such as the antifungal itraconazole and vonoprazan, an acid-reflux treatment, can interfere with how the liver processes avacopan, which may increase the risk of liver injury.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

It worked to “disrupt, deter and degrade foreign adversaries’ ability to interfere with and influence how U.S. citizens vote and how those votes are counted.”

From Salon • May 21, 2026

For the most part, the Nazis didn’t interfere with personal home libraries, but some people took no chances.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Related Words

• hamper
• hinder
• impede
• inhibit
• intervene
• intrude
• meddle
• prevent