modification

American  

[mod-uh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌmɒd ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

• modifications
  plural

1. an act or instance of modifying.

2. the state of being modified; partial alteration.

3. a modified form; variety.

4. Biology. a change in a living organism acquired from its own activity or environment and not transmitted to its descendants.

5. limitation or qualification.

6. Grammar.

   1. the use of a modifier in a construction, or of modifiers in a class of constructions or in a language.

   2. the meaning of a modifier, especially as it affects the meaning of the word or other form modified.

      Limitation is one kind of modification.

   3. a change in the phonological shape of a morpheme, word, or other form when it functions as an element in a construction, as the change of not to -n't in doesn't.

   4. an adjustment in the form of a word as it passes from one language to another.

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modification British  

/ ˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of modifying or the condition of being modified

2. something modified; the result of a modification

3. a small change or adjustment

4. grammar the relation between a modifier and the word or phrase that it modifies

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modification Scientific  

/ mŏd′ə-fĭ-kā′shən /

1. A change in an organism that results from external influences and cannot be inherited.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intermodification
  noun
• overmodification
  noun
• premodification
  noun
• remodification
  noun
• modificatory
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• modifications
  plural

Etymology

Origin of modification

1495–1505; < Latin modificātiōn- (stem of modificātiō ), equivalent to modificāt ( us ) (past participle of modificāre; see modify) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

A modification is a change or alteration, usually to make something work better. If you want to change something — in other words, modify it — you need to make a modification. Lots of things require modification, because they get older or just because they can be improved. A car needs modification — in the form of snow tires — to be ready for the winter. Computer programs need modification all the time, because of new products or viruses. When you think of the word modification, think "change."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

modification modifications

An inability to replicate Phase 2a efficacy signals would reduce rentosertib’s value, and even if efficacy is demonstrated, safety-driven dose modification could constrain commercial uptake, the analysts said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

The hydrogel was also designed with disease modification in mind.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 31, 2026

Knowledge flows easily between them thanks to a culture of publishing research and the Chinese developers’ preference for open-source technologies that are largely free for download and modification.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

"So fewer warnings, more actions penalised, and if there's any reduction in offences being penalised it should be a result of a modification of player behaviour rather than us no longer applying it."

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

A new social order, combined with the genetic modification, was determined to be the most complete solution to the behavioral problems that the genetic damage had created.”

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

“Amazon ignores the law, forcing pregnant employees to continue working without modifications, at great risk to their health,” the lawsuit reads.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

But because of the rapid pace of the modifications, the Qatari jet was reportedly not fitted with anti-missile security systems.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

"You have to be very intentful with where you make modifications, but you do so in the attempt to kind of bring it into a modern gameplay space."

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

These modifications can influence whether genes are switched on or off.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 19, 2026

One of my earlier modifications was "saddlebags" draped over the rover.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

• adjustment
• alteration
• conversion