tampering
Americannoun
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the act or process of changing, damaging, or interfering with something, especially with intent to falsify, cheat, or defraud.
Data transmitted over an SSL connection cannot be forged without the two parties becoming immediately aware of the tampering.
In a clear case of tampering, players were caught using sandpaper to alter the ball.
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the act or process of dealing secretively, improperly, or underhandedly with someone.
I had a duty to report the witness tampering to the judge.
Etymology
Origin of tampering
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Johnson, he added, gets blamed for tampering with Social Security, with many people erroneously believing the president dipped into the program’s coffers.
From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026
Temperature readings at a Paris airport earned a mystery trader $21,000—and sparked a probe into alleged tampering with a weather station.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
It claimed the MSC Francesca was linked to Israel and accused both of “jeopardizing maritime security by operating without necessary permits and tampering with navigation systems.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
Lahore Qalandars were penalised for ball tampering during their Pakistan Super League defeat by Karachi Kings.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
Moreover, the KGB regularly checked the manholes for tampering.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
