modification

American  

[mod-uh-fi-kay-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

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Etymology

Origin of modification

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

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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

She also ordered the government to give three business days' notice before making any further "irreparable modification" to the East Potomac golf course and scheduled a follow-up hearing for October 19.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

This approach to weather modification, now more than 80-years-old, involves using planes and drones to disperse compounds such as silver iodide into clouds to form ice crystals.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

That modification reduced RNA's tendency to form condensates and also changed whether the resulting structures remained fluid or transitioned into a gel-like state.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026

Owners of troubled real estate who have a plan to raise operating income might get a loan modification, says Rich Hill, a senior managing director at Principal Asset Management.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

As a modification of this view, one could argue that the centre of the universe corresponds to the centre of gravity of the aggregate of the two spheres of earth and water.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Those modifications cause the histones to loosen their grip on DNA, opening up access for transcription factors that are needed to turn genes on.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

“Self-expression is such an important part of living your truth as a trans person,” she says, so “it’s only right to see body modifications being available safely in a place like this.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

MRO performs aircraft maintenance and modifications at facilities in the U.S., as well as in Mexico, El Salvador and Colombia, where costs can be significantly lower.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

What they all have in common is that they are expensive, ranging from a few hundred to several thousands of pounds, and modifications can cost hundreds of pounds more on top.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

I'll even be able to use it as a workshop for whatever MAV modifications I need to do on parts that can fit through the trailer's airlock.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

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Related Words

• adjustment
• alteration
• conversion

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