What does alteration mean?
Alteration is a noun referring to a change or modification made to something — most often a small or partial adjustment rather than a complete transformation. The word appears constantly in everyday and professional life: a tailor makes alterations to a garment so it fits better, a homeowner seeks permission for structural alterations to a building, and a lawyer drafts alterations to a contract before it is signed. Because it suggests deliberate, purposeful change, alteration carries a neutral, practical connotation; it is neither inherently positive nor negative, simply descriptive of the act of modifying. It derives from the Latin 'alter', meaning 'other', the same root behind 'alter ego' and 'alternative'. This lineage gives the word a quiet conceptual elegance: to alter something is to make it into a somewhat different version of itself while preserving its essential identity. For anyone writing about revision, renovation, editing, or amendment, alteration is an indispensable and precise term.
nounA change or modification made to something, typically a small or partial one that alters its appearance, form, or character without fundamentally transforming it.
- A change or modification made to something, especially a small or partial adjustment to its appearance, structure, or condition.
- The act or process of altering something; the state of being altered.
"The tailor made an alteration to the dress so it would fit perfectly."
"She took the jacket back to the shop for a minor alteration at the shoulders."
"Planning permission was required before any structural alteration could be made to the listed building."
The plural is very common, particularly when discussing several changes made to clothing, buildings, or documents.
"The dressmaker charged extra for the alterations."
The word 'alteration' and 'alter ego' both trace back to the same Latin root — meaning the 'other' — which is why every alteration makes something into a slightly different version of itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of alteration
Alteration derives from the Latin verb 'alterare', formed from 'alter', meaning 'the other' or 'a second of two'. The word entered English via Old French during the medieval period, with the noun sense well established by late Middle English. Its Latin root also gives us cognates such as 'alter ego', 'alternative', and 'adulterate', all carrying the underlying idea of difference or otherness. Over time, alteration settled into its modern sense of a partial or modest change, distinguishing itself from more radical terms like 'transformation'.
Related word forms
How alteration is actually used
Alteration is a neutral, everyday word common in both formal and informal contexts. It is frequently used in legal, architectural, tailoring, and administrative language, where it often implies a change that is deliberate and documented rather than accidental. In British English it is especially common in phrases such as 'make alterations to' when discussing buildings or documents.
Easily confused with alteration
Alternation refers to a repeated succession of two or more things in turn (such as alternating current), whereas alteration means a change or modification made to something.