a change to something, usually to improve it
“No further modification is allowed to be made to the ultimate plan” the director announced.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
modification
mod‧i‧fi‧ca‧tion AC /ˌmɒdəfəˈkeɪʃən, ˌmɒdɪfəˈkeɪʃən $ ˌmɑː-/ BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: verb: ↑modify; noun: ↑modification; adjective: modified ≠ UNMODIFIED]
1. [countable] a small change made in something such as a design, plan, or system SYN alteration
modification to
We’ve made one or two modifications to the original design.
They have used the same process for almost 50 years with only minor modifications.
2. [uncountable and countable] the act of modifying something, or the process of being modified SYN alteration
modification of
The review resulted in the modification of our security procedures.
modification in
Knowledge of the ill effects of tobacco has led to a modification in smoking behaviour.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ verbs
▪ make a modification I made some modifications to the filing system.
▪ need modification (also require modification formal) Some of the older power stations urgently needed modification.
▪ undergo modification (=be changed) The policy has undergone considerable modification since it was first introduced.
▪ incorporate a modification (=include a modification in something) I've incorporated a few modifications into the program.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + modification
▪ a minor/slight modification (=a small modification) The document needed a few slight modifications.
▪ a major modification They made major modifications to the house to allow him to use his wheelchair.
▪ extensive modifications (=a lot of changes) They had made extensive modifications to the script.
▪ considerable/substantial modification (=when something is changed a lot) The existing system needed substantial modification.
▪ genetic modification (=when the DNA of a living thing is changed) the genetic modification of plants and animals
▪ behaviour modification (=when someone changes their behaviour) A star chart, in which you give a star to a child as a reward, is a simple behaviour modification technique.
▪ lifestyle modification (=when someone changes the way they live) Lifestyle modification is the best way of dealing with moderately high blood pressure.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
modification
modi·fi·ca·tion AW [modification modifications] [ˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃn] [ˌmɑːdɪfɪˈkeɪʃn] noun uncountable, countable ~ (of/to/in sth)
the act or process of changing sth in order to improve it or make it more acceptable; a change that is made
Syn: adaptation
• Considerable modification of the existing system is needed.
• It might be necessary to make a few slight modifications to the design.
Word Origin:
late 15th cent. (in Scots law, denoting the assessment of a payment): from French, or from Latin modificatio(n-), from modificare, from modus ‘measure’, from an Indo-European root shared by mete.
Example Bank:
• A modification in the law has not led to an increase in prosecutions.
• The design requires considerable modification.
• The original plan had undergone fairly extensive modifications.
• These bikes are designed for racing and cannot be used on the road without modification.
• We need to make a few modifications to the proposals.
• a modification in smoking behaviour among older men
• people opposed to the genetic modification of plants
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
modification / ˌmɒd.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃ ə n / / ˌmɑː.dɪ- / noun [ C or U ] (CHANGE)
C1 a change to something, usually to improve it:
Modification of the engine to run on lead-free fuel is fairly simple.
A couple of modifications and the speech will be perfect.
modification / ˌmɒd.ɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃ ə n / / ˌmɑː.dɪ- / noun [ U ] specialized (LANGUAGE)
the fact of a word acting as a modifier of another
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
modification
mod·i·fi·ca·tion /ˌmɑːdəfəˈkeɪʃən/ noun, pl -tions
1 [noncount] : the act or process of changing parts of something : the act or process of modifying something
• The program can be used on all computers without modification.
- often + of
• The bad weather required modification of our travel plans.
2 [count] : a change in something (such as a system or style)
• They passed the law with only a few minor/slight/small modifications.
• The weather required some major/minor modifications to our travel plans.
- often + of or to
• A few modifications of the design might be necessary.
• We made some modifications to the original plan.