Word
modification
Phoneticsmod·i·fi·ca·tion, stress on the fourth syllable
US/ˌmɑdəfəˈkeɪʃən/
UK/mˌɒdɪfɪkˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01an adjustment or change
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a small change made to something to improve it or make it more suitable.
n. the act of making a minor alteration or adjustment to something while keeping its essential character intact.
Español:modificación
“The engineers made a slight modification to the engine to help it use less fuel.”
“The architect suggested a minor modification to the original floor plan to allow for more natural light in the central hallway.”
Synonyms
02grammar/linguistics
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Academic · Technical
n. the way a word's meaning is changed or limited by another word.
n. the structural relationship where one word or phrase limits or qualifies the meaning of another.
“In the phrase 'red apple', the word 'red' is a modification of 'apple'.”
“The student struggled with noun modification, often placing the adjective after the noun instead of before it.”
Usage
In linguistics, this refers to the relationship between a head and its dependents.
Synonyms
03biological change
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. a change in a living thing caused by its environment that is not passed on to its babies.
n. a non-heritable change in an organism's phenotype resulting from environmental influence.
“The plant's smaller leaves were a modification caused by the dry soil, not its genes.”
“Biologists distinguish between genetic mutations and environmental modifications that do not alter the underlying DNA sequence of the species.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “modification” in context.
Verb
01. require modification
“The initial software design will require modification to meet the new security standards.”
verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“In one of the few modifications made since Wagner’s time, a tiny air-con unit has been fitted.” “The FAA gave airlines until July 2028 to complete the modifications, and the NTSB report found the required changes had not yet been made to the Ryanair plane.” Etymology
From Middle English modificatioune, from Middle French modification and its etymon Latin modificātiō (“a measuring”), from modificāre (“to limit, control, modify”); see modify. By surface analysis, modify + -ication.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/modification
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0