modification

American  

[mod-uh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌmɒd ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

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

• intermodification noun
• modificatory adjective
• overmodification noun
• premodification noun
• remodification noun

Etymology

Origin of modification

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

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

Reflection offers open-source AI models, allowing free download and modification, contrasting with proprietary models from OpenAI and Google.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

In a complementary strategy, the scientists engineered a modified version of the TSC2 protein that resists nitric oxide related modification.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

As part of the new amendments, intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency would also not be able to use OpenAI's system without a "follow-on modification" to the contract.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

It gives the union a say in “equipment and process design development, modification, and repurposing” and requires breaks at least every two and a half hours.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

Papin’s pump is often, and with good reason, described as a modification of Savery’s, though Papin claimed he had devised it independently.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• adjustment
• alteration
• conversion