noun
Common
interference
ihn-tuh-FEER-ruhns
Interference (noun) means the act of interfering with, or disrupting, something. Example: “Constant interference from the parents made it hard for the coach to do his job.”
noun
1
The act of interfering with, or disrupting, something.
"Constant interference from the parents made it hard for the coach to do his job."
"I resent your interference in my personal affairs."
"The team complained about political interference in the investigation."
2
Unwanted noise or distortion affecting a signal, such as radio or TV.
"The microwave caused interference, so the wireless speaker crackled and cut out."
"A storm can cause interference that makes the television picture flicker."
"Static interference made the radio broadcast hard to hear."
3
An effect produced when overlapping waves combine, in physics.
"Interference patterns appear when ripples from two stones meet on a pond."
"Physics students observed interference between the sound waves from two speakers."
"The experiment demonstrated interference between two beams of light."
How to use interference
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnwanted disruption — whether someone meddling, a garbled signal, or overlapping waves in physics.
Common pairings
radio interference
political interference
wave interference
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Word forms
- Plural
- interferences
- Third person singular
- interferences
- Past tense
- interferenced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Constant _____ from the parents made it hard for the coach to do his job.
Etymology
From interfere plus the suffix -ence; the physics sense was popularized by the scientist Thomas Young around 1801.
Class of 1801
interference joined the language around 1801.
See the full Class of 1801 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for interference
See all rhymes for interference →Frequently asked questions
What does “interference” mean?
The word “interference” means the act of interfering with, or disrupting, something. In plain terms, unwanted disruption — whether someone meddling, a garbled signal, or overlapping waves in physics.
How do you pronounce “interference”?
“Interference” is pronounced ihn-tuh-FEER-ruhns (/ˌɪntəɹˈfɪɹɪns/ in IPA).
How do you use “interference” in a sentence?
Here is “interference” used in a sentence: “The team complained about political interference in the investigation.”
What is the opposite of “interference”?
The opposite of “interference” — its antonyms — is noninterference.
What part of speech is “interference”?
“Interference” is a noun.
Where does the word “interference” come from?
The word “interference” dates back to around 1801. From interfere plus the suffix -ence; the physics sense was popularized by the scientist Thomas Young around 1801.
Is “interference” a common word?
“Interference” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “interference” have?
“Interference” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of interfering with, or disrupting, something.
What is the difference between interference and intervention?
'Interference' usually carries a negative sense of meddling or disrupting something uninvited, while 'intervention' suggests a deliberate, often helpful act of stepping in to change an outcome. Intervention is frequently welcome; interference rarely is.
What is interference in physics?
In physics, 'interference' is the effect produced when overlapping waves combine, either reinforcing each other (constructive) or cancelling out (destructive). It is a central concept in the study of light and sound.
What causes interference on a radio or TV signal?
In this sense, 'interference' is unwanted noise or distortion affecting a signal. It can be caused by other electronic devices, physical obstacles, or competing signals disrupting the intended transmission.
What prepositions are used with interference?
'Interference' is typically followed by 'with', as in 'interference with the signal', or 'in', as in 'interference in someone's affairs'. 'In' tends to describe meddling, while 'with' often describes disruption.
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