Definition

1. Noun:
   • Any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome: Something that blocks, hinders, or slows down progress or action.
   • (American football) Blocking a player's path with your body: A legal tactic where a player uses their body to obstruct an opponent from reaching the ball carrier.
   • Electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication: Unwanted noise or signals that disrupt the reception or clarity of a transmission, such as in radio or telephone.
   • The act of hindering or obstructing or impeding: The action of getting in the way of a process or activity.
   • A policy of intervening in the affairs of other countries: The involvement of one state in the domestic politics of another, often viewed as unwelcome.

Usage Examples

• Noun (General Obstruction):
  • The loud construction noise was a constant interference with our phone calls.
  • Bureaucratic interference slowed down the approval process for the new project.
• Noun (Sports):
  • The running back scored a touchdown thanks to perfect interference from his blockers.
• Noun (Technical/Communication):
  • The pilot reported radio interference from a nearby electrical storm.
  • There's too much interference on this channel; let's switch to another frequency.
• Noun (Act of Hindering):
  • The referee penalized the player for interference with the goalkeeper.
• Noun (Political):
  • The ambassador condemned foreign interference in the nation's elections.

Advanced Usage

• "Run interference": In American football, to block for the ball carrier. Figuratively, to deal with problems or distractions for someone else so they can work undisturbed.
  • While the CEO focused on the merger, her assistant ran interference with the press.
• "Constructive/Destructive interference": (Physics) Terms describing the combined effect of two waves. Constructive interference increases amplitude, while destructive interference decreases it.
  • The pattern of light and dark bands is caused by the destructive interference of light waves.

Variants and Related Words

• Interfere (verb): To get involved in a situation where one is not wanted or needed; to hinder or obstruct.
  • Please do not interfere with the experiment.
• Interfering (adjective): Tending to interfere, especially in an unwanted way.
  • She found her neighbor's advice to be overly interfering.

Synonyms

• Obstruction: Something that blocks or clogs a passage.
• Hindrance: A thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to something or someone.
• Meddling: Interfering in something that is not one's concern.
• Static: Electrical interference in communications; also used figuratively for criticism or opposition.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Interfere with: To prevent something from happening or developing successfully; to handle or tamper with something improperly.
  • The bad weather interfered with our travel plans.
  • Do not interfere with the emergency equipment.

Related Idioms

• To be a fly in the ointment: To be a minor irritation that spoils the success or enjoyment of something (similar to being an interference).
  • The only interference with our perfect day was the sudden rain shower—it was the fly in the ointment.

Noun

1. any obstruction that impedes or is burdensome
2. (American football) blocking a player's path with your body
   • he ran interference for the quarterback
3. electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication
4. the act of hindering or obstructing or impeding
5. a policy of intervening in the affairs of other countries