Alteration

/ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃən/

nounIntermediate📊CommonAction
1 meaning1 question

Definitions

1

A change or modification made to something.

/ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃən/

nounneutralIntermediate
Action

The act of altering something

The alteration to the building plans delayed the project.

💡 Simply: A change.

More Examples

2

She requested an alteration to her order.

How It's Used

Fashion

"The alteration of the dress made it fit perfectly."

Law

"The contract required an alteration to be made in writing."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

From Middle English alteracioun, from Old French alteration, from Latin alterationem (nominative alteratio), from alterare "to change", from alter "other"

The word has been used in similar contexts since the Middle Ages, often in legal and religious documents.

Memory tip

Think of 'altering' clothes – a change to fit better.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to change"

significant alterationminor alterationundergo alteration

Common misspellings

alterationnalterasionalterattion

Usage

20%Spoken
80%Written