Interference means: The act of interfering with something, or something that interferes.. It has drug-related associations; worth a calm conversation about which side of the topic your teen is on. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
interference
The act of interfering with something, or something that interferes.
ˌɪntə(ɹ)ˈfɪəɹənsDocumented since 1800sSilenthistoricalCurrent151 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Seen in the wild
9 citations · last seen May 2026
Etymology timeline
Born ~1801 · 1 year of recorded use19th centurySee decade cohort →
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
* above, sans ethanolic interference. Never thought I'd live to see the day when a politcal party became one of Pedophilephiles.
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BlueskyMay 2026
You all want to talk about election interference and meddling in other countries politics.. Look no further, it’s this: International Democracy Union (IDU) 😑
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BlueskyMay 2026
The GOP Congress is ultimately responsible for using, supporting, and running interference for the madman destroying US prosperity, ingenuity, and democratic process in favor of the earth’s worst authoritarian regimes.
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BlueskyMay 2026
Is MAGA paying attention? Isn't this the very definition of government intimidation and election interference, now he's even going after the personal, private information of VOLUNTEER POLL WORKERS!
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BlueskyMay 2026
So foreign interference is bad, but from other provinces and federal is just fine?
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Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
The act of interfering with something, or something that interferes.
They were glued to the TV, as the referee called out a fifteen yard penalty for interference.
Origin: From . The sense in physics was likely introduced by , which he used as early as 1801 in a paper in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
Interference means: The act of interfering with something, or something that interferes.. It has drug-related associations; worth a calm conversation about which side of the topic your teen is on. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
interference means: The act of interfering with something, or something that interferes.. Register: very informal, often derogatory or vulgar. Avoid in formal, business, academic, or polite writing. Even in casual speech the word can offend and is best left out of a learner's active vocabulary. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Heard in the wild
“The GOP Congress is ultimately responsible for using, supporting, and running interference for the madman destroying US prosperity, ingenuity, and democratic process in favor of the earth’s worst authoritarian regimes.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Is MAGA paying attention? Isn't this the very definition of government intimidation and election interference, now he's even going after the personal, private information of VOLUNTEER POLL WORKERS!”
— Bluesky· May 2026“So foreign interference is bad, but from other provinces and federal is just fine?”
— Bluesky· May 2026“obviously Polanski should take no action and the disciplinary processes of the party should be allowed to function without interference”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Why to listen to anyone else interference whatsoever it is. Why to consider anyone words, whatsoever and whosoever it is from which ever place. This is the power of clear thinking, communication and approach which will gain you appreciation. I join today”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(physics) An effect caused by the superposition of two systems of waves.
They were glued to the TV, as the referee called out a fifteen yard penalty for interference.
Cluster: general
Heard in the wild
“* above, sans ethanolic interference. Never thought I'd live to see the day when a politcal party became one of Pedophilephiles.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“You all want to talk about election interference and meddling in other countries politics.. Look no further, it’s this: International Democracy Union (IDU) 😑”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Pilsung Kang: Barren Plateaus as Destructive Interference: A Diagnostic Framework and Implications for Structured Ansatzes https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.01319 https://arxiv.org/pdf/2605.01319 https://arxiv.org/html/2605.01319”
— Bluesky· May 2026“🗄️📦Weather:w9258✂⬛🗻🌓 📝 WAL Insert · page 3120562176 · 🫧 Interference”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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#3·Apr 27, 2026
(sports) The illegal obstruction of an opponent in some ball games.
They wanted to watch the game on TV, but there was too much interference to even make out the score on the tiny screen.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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