interference

interference — noun

1. the act of taking part in a situation that does not concern you, especially when

1.nounB2
Definition

the act of taking part in a situation that does not concern you, especially when your involvement causes problems or makes other people annoyed

Example

Ayesha told her mother-in-law that she did not appreciate the interference in her parenting decisions.

collocation: interference in [something]

The company's repeated interference in local politics angered many residents.

Common collocations
  • interference in
  • interference from
  • political interference
  • government interference
  • outside interference
  • unwanted interference
Synonyms
  • meddling

    more informal, suggests annoying involvement in trivial matters

  • intrusion

    stronger negative tone, implies violation of privacy or personal space

  • obstruction

    focuses on blocking or hindering progress rather than mere involvement

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

interference in + noun/gerund

interference from + noun

Common Mistakes

I don't like your interference for my life.
I don't like your interference in my life.
Use 'in' (not 'for') after 'interference'.
The UN's interference helped stop the war.
The UN's intervention helped stop the war.
'Interference' is always negative; use 'intervention' for neutral or positive involvement.

2. unwanted noise, static, or electrical signals that make it hard to hear or see a

2.nounB2
Definition

unwanted noise, static, or electrical signals that make it hard to hear or see a broadcast clearly, or disrupt the operation of a communication device

Example

The radio signal was full of interference, so we could barely hear the news.

passive: was full of interference

Thunderstorms can cause interference that disrupts satellite television reception.

collocation: cause interference

Common collocations
  • radio interference
  • electronic interference
  • signal interference
  • cause interference
  • reduce interference
  • heavy interference
Synonyms
  • static

    specifically refers to crackling noise on a radio or phone line

  • noise

    broader term; any unwanted sound or signal that distorts communication

Grammar Patterns

interference from + noun

cause/create interference

3. the effect that happens when two or more waves (such as light, sound, or water w

3.nounC1
Definition

the effect that happens when two or more waves (such as light, sound, or water waves) meet and combine, producing areas where the wave is stronger or weaker

Example

Two light sources made an interference pattern of bright and dark bands on the screen.

collocation: interference pattern

When sound waves overlap, constructive interference can make the noise louder in certain areas.

constructive interference

Common collocations
  • wave interference
  • light interference
  • sound interference
  • constructive interference
  • destructive interference
  • interference pattern

Grammar Patterns

constructive/destructive interference

interference pattern

Usage Note

Usually a technical term in physics and engineering. It is uncountable when referring to the general phenomenon — 'interference occurs when...' — but can be used with adjectives like 'constructive' and 'destructive' to describe types.

4. a mistake made by a language learner who uses a rule, word, or structure from a

4.nounC1
Definition

a mistake made by a language learner who uses a rule, word, or structure from a language they already know, which does not fit the new language they are learning

Example

Chinese learners of English sometimes produce word-order errors due to interference from their first language.

collocation: interference from [language]

Élise saw that interference from French gave her English words the wrong stress pattern.

Common collocations
  • language interference
  • interference from
  • grammatical interference
  • phonological interference
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • positive transfer

    when a rule or pattern from one language correctly applies to another

Grammar Patterns

interference from + language

language interference

Usage Note

Common in linguistics and language-teaching contexts. The term is often paired with a language name in a prepositional phrase ('interference from Spanish'). The verb 'interfere' is used differently for this sense — 'the first language interferes with the second.'

5. in tennis, a ruling that occurs when something beyond a player's control, or an

5.nounB2
Definition

in tennis, a ruling that occurs when something beyond a player's control, or an illegal action by their opponent, prevents them from hitting the ball

Example

The umpire called interference when the ball boy moved across the court during the point.

call + interference (sports ruling)

Players hit by a ball from another court can claim interference and replay the point.

Common collocations
  • call interference
  • claim interference
  • accidental interference
  • rule interference
Synonyms
  • hindrance

    the formal term used in the official tennis rulebook; 'interference' is the more general term

Grammar Patterns

call interference

claim interference

6. in baseball, a violation called when a player improperly alters the normal flow

6.nounB2
Definition

in baseball, a violation called when a player improperly alters the normal flow of the game, such as by physically blocking or impeding an opponent

Example

The runner was called out for interference when he collided with the second baseman.

passive: be called out for interference

Catcher's interference happens when the catcher's mitt touches the batter's bat during a swing.

Common collocations
  • catcher's interference
  • interference call
  • called for interference
  • counts as interference

Grammar Patterns

be called for interference

counts as interference

Usage Note

Distinguish from the tennis sense (sense 5): baseball interference involves a player changing the flow of play illegally, whereas tennis interference is about preventing a shot.

7. an ice hockey penalty called when a player illegally blocks, checks, or delays a

7.nounB2
Definition

an ice hockey penalty called when a player illegally blocks, checks, or delays an opponent who is not carrying the puck

Example

The player received a two-minute penalty for interference after blocking the forward without the puck.

penalty for interference

Ice hockey interference rules protect players without the puck from being checked illegally.

Common collocations
  • penalty for interference
  • interference penalty
  • signal interference
  • interference rule

Grammar Patterns

penalty for interference

signal interference

Usage Note

Distinguish from baseball interference (sense 6): in ice hockey, the key condition is that the opponent does not have the puck. If the opponent has the puck, body checking may be legal.

Idioms

run interference

idiom

To block opponents to help a teammate move forward with the ball.

Maya ran interference so Diego could score the winning goal.

Can you run interference for me while I carry the ball?

Word family

  • interfere
    verbB2
  • interfering
    adjectiveB2
  • non-interference
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Interference, meddling, and intrusion all describe unwanted involvement, but they differ in tone and focus. Interference is the broadest term — any act of becoming involved where participation is not wanted, often with a negative effect. Meddling is more informal and suggests annoying involvement in matters that are not one's concern, as in 'a meddling neighbour who gives unwanted advice.' Intrusion carries a stronger negative charge, implying a violation of privacy or personal space. Obstruction centres on the result: actively blocking or slowing progress. Intervention, by contrast, can be neutral or positive — a teacher's intervention in a dispute is helpful, whereas interference would be unwelcome. For example, 'the government's interference in the media angered journalists' (unwanted) versus 'the UN's intervention brought humanitarian aid' (intended to help).

meddlingintrusion ↗obstructionintervention ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • without interference
  • subject to interference
  • free from interference

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Interference comes from the verb 'interfere,' which entered English in the 1500s through Old French 'entreferir,' meaning 'to strike each other.' The French word combined 'entre-' ('between,' from Latin 'inter-') and 'ferir' ('to strike,' from Latin 'ferire'). The original meaning was about physical striking or collision. By the 1700s, the sense had shifted to 'getting in the way of' or 'meddling in someone else's affairs.' The physics meaning — waves combining to strengthen or weaken each other — was introduced in the early 1800s by the British scientist Thomas Young.