- Also called: qualifier a word or phrase that qualifies the sense of another word; for example, the noun alarm is a modifier of clock in alarm clock and the phrase every day is an adverbial modifier of walks in he walks every day
- a person or thing that modifies
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
mod•i•fi•er
(mod′ə fī′ər),USA pronunciation n.
- a person or thing that modifies.
- Grammar
- a word, phrase, or sentence element that limits or qualifies the sense of another word, phrase, or element in the same construction.
- the immediate constituent of an endocentric construction that is not the head.
- modify + -er1 1575–85
- See dangling participle, misplaced modifier.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
modifier /ˈmɒdɪˌfaɪə/ n
mod•i•fy /ˈmɑdəˌfaɪ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -fied, -fy•ing.
mod•i•fi•er, n. [countable]When the word model is used as a modifier, it goes before the noun it modifies, as in a model home.See -mod-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to change somewhat the form or qualities of; amend:to modify a contract.
- Grammar(of a word, phrase, or clause) to describe, limit, or qualify (another word, phrase, or clause):In the phrase a good cook, the word good modifies the word cook.
mod•i•fi•er, n. [countable]When the word model is used as a modifier, it goes before the noun it modifies, as in a model home.See -mod-.
mod•i•fy
(mod′ə fī′),USA pronunciation v., -fied, -fy•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
mod′i•fi′a•ble, adj.
mod′i•fi′a•bil′i•ty, mod′i•fi′a•ble•ness, n.
v.t.
- to change somewhat the form or qualities of;
alter partially;
amend:to modify a contract. - Grammar(of a word, phrase, or clause) to stand in a syntactically subordinate relation to (another word, phrase, or clause), usually with descriptive, limiting, or particularizing meaning;
be a modifier. In a good man, good modifies man. - Grammarto be the modifier or attribute of.
- Linguisticsto change (a vowel) by umlaut.
- to reduce or lessen in degree or extent;
moderate;
soften:to modify one's demands.
v.i.
- to be or become modified.
- Latin modificāre to impose a rule or pattern, regulate, restrain. See mode1, -ify
- Middle French modifier
- Middle English modifien 1350–1400
mod′i•fi′a•bil′i•ty, mod′i•fi′a•ble•ness, n.
- 1. vary, adjust, shape, reform. 5. Modify, qualify, temper suggest altering an original statement, condition, or the like, so as to avoid anything excessive or extreme. To modify is to alter in one or more particulars, generally in the direction of leniency or moderation:to modify demands, rates.To qualify is to restrict or limit by exceptions or conditions:to qualify one's praise, hopes.To temper is to alter the quality of something, generally so as to diminish its force or harshness:to temper one's criticism with humor.
'modifier' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
A
- Abbasid
- absentee
- access
- acetyl
- ack-ack
- active matrix
- actually
- adjective
- adjunct
- admittedly
- advance
- adverb
- aero
- aerospace
- affiliate
- afternoon
- again
- age
- agitprop
- air
- air force
- airing
- airline
- air raid
- airsoft
- aldehyde
- A level
- A list
- alkyl
- all
- all told
- allegedly
- allowedly
- allyl
- almond
- alpha
- also
- Alternative Vote
- amateur
- amide
- amino
- ammonium
- amyl
- analogue
- angora
- animal rights
- anti-aircraft
- antique
- antitrust