modification

American  

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

noun

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

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

Etymology

Origin of modification

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

Example Sentences

Israel has tried to give itself more options with modifications including software updates that make its lower-tier interceptors more capable of handling threats from longer-range missiles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even the author most associated with the imperative of a dedicated writing space turns out to have made drastic modifications in real life.

From The Wall Street Journal

Reflection offers open-source AI models, allowing free download and modification, contrasting with proprietary models from OpenAI and Google.

From Barron's

Gehry’s vision included completing the original plans cost-cut out of Disney a quarter-century ago, along with new modifications and much more throughout the area.

From Los Angeles Times

Whether loan modifications are a feature or a bug is a fair question.

From Barron's

Related Words

• adjustment
• alteration
• conversion