interfere

[ in-ter-feer ]

verb (used without object)

, in·ter·fered, in·ter·fer·ing.

1. to come into opposition, as one thing with another, especially with the effect of hampering action or procedure (often followed by with ):

   Constant distractions interfere with work.

2. to take part in the affairs of others; meddle (often followed by with or in ):

   to interfere in another's life.

   Synonyms: interlope, encroach, intrude, pry

3. (of things) to strike against each other, or one against another, so as to hamper or hinder action; come into physical collision.
4. to interpose or intervene for a particular purpose.

   Synonyms: intercede

5. to strike one foot or leg against another in moving, as a horse.
6. Sports.
   1. to obstruct the action of an opposing player in a way barred by the rules.
   2. Football. to run interference for a teammate carrying the ball.
7. Physics. to cause interference.
8. to clash; come in collision; be in opposition:

   The claims of two nations may interfere.

9. Law. to claim earlier invention when several patent requests for the same invention are being filed.

verb phrase

1. Chiefly British. to molest sexually.

interfere

/ ˌɪntəˈfɪə /

verb

1. often foll by in to interpose, esp meddlesomely or unwarrantedly; intervene
2. often foll by with to come between or in opposition; hinder; obstruct
3. euphemistic.
   foll by with to assault sexually
4. to strike one against the other, as a horse's legs
5. physics to cause or produce interference

Derived Forms

• ˌinterˈferer, noun
• ˌinterˈferingly, adverb
• ˌinterˈfering, adjective

Other Words From

• inter·ferer noun
• inter·fering·ly adverb
• nonin·ter·fering adjective
• nonin·ter·fering·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of interfere¹

First recorded in 1520–30; inter- + -fere (from Latin ferīre “to strike”); modeled on Middle French s'entreferir

Word History and Origins

Origin of interfere¹

C16: from Old French s'entreferir to collide, from entre- inter- + ferir to strike, from Latin ferīre

Example Sentences

Gaetz regularly appears on TV accusing Garland and Smith of engaging in a witch hunt against Trump and attempting to interfere with his reelection.

From Slate

Digital memory prompts, in their artificiality and unpredictability, might interfere with forgetting.

From Slate

Matter is quantum as we know, and if matter comes from the spacetime metric then, what happens to the observed distinction between quantum and classical correlations - for example quantum probabilities interfere, classical do not.”

From Salon

And the courts would be powerless to stop him, because they could not interfere with this “political question.”

From Slate

Scalia believed the Constitution put all the executive power in the hands of the president, and neither the Congress nor the courts could interfere.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hamper
• hinder
• impede
• inhibit
• intervene
• intrude
• meddle
• prevent