alteration
noun
al·ter·a·tion ˌȯl-tə-ˈrā-shən 
plural alterations
1
: the act or process of altering something
The dress needs alteration for a proper fit.
: the state of being altered 2
: the result of changing or altering something: such as
a
: a change made in fitting a garment
no charge for alterations
b
: a change in a legal instrument that alters its legal effect
She made some alterations to her will.
c
: a mineral that has been altered by a chemical process : metasomatism
Synonyms
- change
- difference
- modification
- redoing
- refashioning
- remaking
- remodeling
- revamping
- review
- revise
- revision
- reworking
- variation
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the alteration of the pattern They did a good job on the dress alteration. He made alterations in his will.
Recent Examples on the Web Maybe someday there will be a clear-eyed explanation for why the Lakers decided to push in for Russell Westbrook, to trust their stars’ desires for another All-NBA type instead of a more minor alteration in the form of Buddy Hield. 
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2022 The coronavirus pandemic has caused an alteration in the traditional sports calendar, meaning the NBA, NHL and MLB will all soon be in the offseason. Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 22 Oct. 2020 But the 1970 Passionsspiele refused to make any significant alteration to the late-19-century script then in use. A.j. Goldmann, The Atlantic, 4 Aug. 2022 His revanchism may explain why Russia’s alteration of national boundaries by force doesn’t trouble him. William A. Galston, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 Plant engineers demonstrated that alteration of tobacco genes can eliminate crop-yield losses—as high as 50 percent in the Southern United States—that occur when temperatures rise and plants mistakenly metabolize oxygen instead of carbon dioxide. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2022 In addition to the alteration in hours, LPLS has canceled programming through Jan. 30. cleveland, 9 Jan. 2022 This alteration in our microbiome might impede our immunological, metabolic, and cognitive development, setting the stage for chronic inflammatory disorders. Jerome Groopman, The New York Review of Books, 21 Mar. 2019 Following Kafka’s lead, the cause of this sudden alteration remains unknown; its meaning is equally elusive. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 See More
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2022 The coronavirus pandemic has caused an alteration in the traditional sports calendar, meaning the NBA, NHL and MLB will all soon be in the offseason. Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 22 Oct. 2020 But the 1970 Passionsspiele refused to make any significant alteration to the late-19-century script then in use. A.j. Goldmann, The Atlantic, 4 Aug. 2022 His revanchism may explain why Russia’s alteration of national boundaries by force doesn’t trouble him. William A. Galston, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 Plant engineers demonstrated that alteration of tobacco genes can eliminate crop-yield losses—as high as 50 percent in the Southern United States—that occur when temperatures rise and plants mistakenly metabolize oxygen instead of carbon dioxide. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2022 In addition to the alteration in hours, LPLS has canceled programming through Jan. 30. cleveland, 9 Jan. 2022 This alteration in our microbiome might impede our immunological, metabolic, and cognitive development, setting the stage for chronic inflammatory disorders. Jerome Groopman, The New York Review of Books, 21 Mar. 2019 Following Kafka’s lead, the cause of this sudden alteration remains unknown; its meaning is equally elusive. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English alteracioun "change, transformation," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French alteracion, borrowed from Medieval Latin alterātiōn-, alterātiō, from Late Latin alterāre "to change, alter" + Latin -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
alteration
noun
al·ter·ation ˌȯl-tə-ˈrā-shən
1
: the act or process of changing something
She began alteration of the design.
2
: the result of changing : modification
a minor alteration
alterations
noun
as in changes
the act, process, or result of making different there's been an alteration in the intended route of our bird walk Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- changes
- differences
- modifications
- variations
- revisions
- adjustments
- shifts
- transformations
- mutations
- fluctuations
- amendments
- revises
- reforms
- corrections
- conversions
- deformations
- distortions
- rectifications
- substitutions
- metamorphoses
- oscillations
- reviews
- replacements
- tweaks
- displacements
- modulations
- transfigurations
- regulations
- redesigns
- redos
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fixations
- stabilizations