modifier

American  

[mod-uh-fahy-er] / ˈmɒd əˌfaɪ ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that modifies.

2. Grammar.

   1. a word, phrase, or sentence element that limits or qualifies the sense of another word, phrase, or element in the same construction.

   2. the immediate constituent of an endocentric construction that is not the head.

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modifier British  

/ ˈmɒdɪˌfaɪə /

noun

1. Also called: qualifier.  grammar a word or phrase that qualifies the sense of another word; for example, the noun alarm is a modifier of clock in alarm clock and the phrase every day is an adverbial modifier of walks in he walks every day

2. a person or thing that modifies

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modifier Cultural  

1. A word or group of words that describes or limits a verb, noun, adjective, or adverb. Modifiers applied to nouns are adjectives. Modifiers applied to verbs or adjectives are adverbs. Those that are applied to adverbs themselves are also called adverbs.

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Grammar

See dangling participle, misplaced modifier.

Etymology

Origin of modifier

First recorded in 1575–85; modify + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Scientists from Mass General Brigham and the Broad Institute are exploring new therapeutic approaches and have identified a genetic modifier that could point toward a future treatment strategy.

From Science Daily

It's what earns his narcissism the modifier "malignant."

From Salon

However, these traditional rheological modifiers have raised environmental concerns regarding sourcing and sustainability.

From Science Daily

He is concerned the severity modifier could make it harder to launch future cancer drugs.

From BBC

The new findings lay the foundation for a comprehensive investigation of the role of METTL16 in health and disease and are a step closer towards the development of therapeutic agents targeting such RNA modifiers.

From Science Daily