interference

noun in·ter·fer·ence \-ˈfir-ən(t)s\

: involvement in the activities and concerns of other people when your involvement is not wanted : the act of interfering

: additional signals that weaken or block the main signal in a radio or television broadcast

sports : the act of illegally hitting or getting in the way of an opponent

Full Definition of INTERFERENCE

a : the act or process of interfering

b : something that interferes : obstruction

: the mutual effect on meeting of two wave trains (as of light or sound) that constitutes alternating areas of increased and decreased amplitude (as light and dark lines or louder and softer sound)

a : the legal blocking of an opponent in football to make way for the ballcarrier

b : the illegal hindering of an opponent in sports

: partial or complete inhibition or sometimes facilitation of other genetic crossovers in the vicinity of a chromosomal locus where a preceding crossover has occurred

a : confusion of a received radio signal due to the presence of noise (as atmospherics) or signals from two or more transmitters on a single frequency

b : something that produces such confusion

: the disturbing effect of new learning on the performance of previously learned behavior with which it is inconsistent

— in·ter·fer·en·tial \-fə-ˈren(t)-shəl, -ˌfir-ˈen(t)-\ adjective

See interference defined for English-language learners

See interference defined for kids

First Known Use of INTERFERENCE

1783

Related to INTERFERENCE

Synonyms: balk, bar, block, chain, clog, cramp, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, fetter, handicap, hindrance, holdback, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, encumbrance, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, shackles, stop, stumbling block, trammel

INTERFERENCE Defined for Kids

interference

noun in·ter·fer·ence \ˌin-tər-ˈfir-əns\

Definition of INTERFERENCE for Kids

: something that gets in the way as an obstacle

: involvement in the concerns of others when such involvement is not wanted <The young couple disliked their parents' interference.>

Medical Dictionary

interference

noun in·ter·fer·ence \-ˈfir-ən(t)s\

Medical Definition of INTERFERENCE

: the act or process of interfering

: the mutual effect on meeting of two wave trains (as of light or sound) that constitutes alternating areas of increased and decreased amplitude (as light and dark lines or louder and softer sound)

: partial or complete inhibition or sometimes facilitation of other genetic crossovers in the vicinity of a chromosomal locus where a preceding crossover has occurred

: the disturbing effect of new learning on the performance of previously learned behavior with which it is inconsistent—compare negative transfer

: prevention of typical growth and development of a virus in a suitable host by the presence of another virus in the same host individual—see interference phenomenon