interference
/ˌɪntəɹˈfɪɹɪns/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.99 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
In United States patent law, an inter partes proceeding to determine the priority issues of multiple patent applications; a priority contest.
American usage; Countable; Uncountable
noun
The interruption of the line between an attacked piece and its defender by sacrificially interposing a piece.
Countable; Uncountable
verb
To interfere.
Example Sentences
- "Somewhat impeded by constant political interference of one sort or another, British Railways are nevertheless pressing ahead with a mammoth modernisation programme; [...]"
- ""With magic in limited use and hidden, it was possible to enhance the various magic resistances of humans, and to keep certain forms of magic from being possible. If magic enters common usage, this interference becomes infeasible.""
- "They were glued to the TV, as the referee called out a fifteen yard penalty for interference."
- "They wanted to watch the game on TV, but there was too much interference to even make out the score on the tiny screen."
- "In economic terms, the two production processes can be simultaneously implemented without interferencing between themselves."
Etymology
From interfere + -ence. The sense in physics was likely introduced by English polymath Thomas Young, which he used as early as 1801 in a paper in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌɪntəɹˈfɪɹɪns/
- British English: /ˌɪntə(ɹ)ˈfɪəɹəns/
Usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
- American usage