intervention

American  

[in-ter-ven-shuhn] / ˌɪn tərˈvɛn ʃən /

noun

1. the act or fact of coming or occurring between two people, things, or times.

   Squabbling siblings generally work things out themselves, but this fight called for parental intervention.

   Even the intervention of 20 years hadn’t erased their mutual dislike.

2. interposition or interference of one state in the affairs of another.

   The UN’s prohibition of armed intervention in the civil war can easily be criticized as antihumanitarian.

3. a planned confrontation of someone engaging in self-destructive behavior, such as substance abuse, to convince them to seek treatment.

   She thought her drinking was a well-kept secret until she came home to find six of her siblings and friends ready to conduct an intervention.

4. Education. a targeted short-term teaching strategy for students with specific needs.

   Reading interventions kept several of her students from having to switch to remedial classes.

5. Medicine/Medical. a treatment, procedure, or other action taken to prevent or treat disease, or to improve health in other ways.

   The patient has responded well to nonpharmacological interventions for high blood pressure.

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intervention British  

/ ˌɪntəˈvɛnʃən /

noun

1. the act of intervening

2. any interference in the affairs of others, esp by one state in the affairs of another

3. economics the action of a central bank in supporting the international value of a currency by buying large quantities of the currency to keep the price up

4. commerce the action of the EU in buying up surplus produce when the market price drops to a certain value

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Other Word Forms

• interventional adjective
• interventionary adjective
• prointervention adjective
• reintervention noun

Etymology

Origin of intervention

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Late Latin interventiōn-, stem of interventiō “interruption, occurrence”; equivalent to intervene + -tion

Example Sentences

However, the KMI Panel unanimously supported the non-VAR intervention, stating that it was "in keeping with the high threshold for VAR overturns".

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

The state’s top attorney directed the sheriff to halt his investigation and has since filed a series of legal challenges asking for judicial intervention to ensure that Bianco does so.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Holy Week, one of the most sacred periods in the Christian calendar, centers on themes of sacrifice, suffering and redemption — making the address a direct moral intervention at a moment of global tension.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

This comes against the backdrop not only of high energy prices but also a strong Swiss franc and signals of potential currency intervention by the Swiss National Bank.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

A few things have fallen into place—things that I hope are more divine intervention than some ancient family curse leading me into a trap that’s gonna end my batball career.

From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone

Related Words

• interference
• mediation