tamper
B2Formal to neutral; common in legal, technical, security, and journalistic contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To interfere with something, especially in order to damage it or make unauthorized changes.
To meddle or tinker with something in a way that is often secretive, improper, or harmful. It implies a violation of integrity or intended function.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost always has a negative connotation of unauthorized, damaging, or deceitful interference. Rarely used positively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical in meaning and frequency. Minor differences may appear in collocational preferences (e.g., 'tamper with evidence' is universal).
Connotations
Identical negative connotations of illicit meddling.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American legal and security discourse, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] tampers with [Object]It is illegal to tamper with [Object]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Do not tamper with fate.”
- “Tamper-proof (adjective)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to the illegal alteration of financial records, security tags, or product packaging.
Academic
Used in discussions of research ethics (e.g., tampering with data), legal studies, and history.
Everyday
Warning labels (e.g., 'Warranty void if seal is tampered with'), discussing broken items.
Technical
In engineering and IT, referring to unauthorized modification of devices, software, or systems.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The suspect was accused of tampering with the evidence at the crime scene.
- It is a criminal offence to tamper with an electricity meter.
- Please do not tamper with the thermostat settings.
American English
- Investigators found that someone had tampered with the security footage.
- The warranty is void if you tamper with the product's internal components.
- He was charged with tampering with a witness before the trial.
adjective
British English
- The box was fitted with a tamper-evident seal.
- They installed tamper-proof screws on the public benches.
American English
- All medications now have tamper-resistant packaging.
- The voting machines are supposed to be tamper-proof.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Do not tamper with this button.
- The bag has a tamper-proof seal.
- Someone tampered with my bicycle lock.
- Tampering with fire alarms is dangerous and illegal.
- The laboratory was fined for tampering with its environmental data.
- Evidence suggested the documents had been tampered with after signing.
- The prosecutor argued that the defendant had sought to tamper with the jury's impartiality.
- Ancient artifacts can be irreparably damaged if amateurs tamper with them.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TEMPER tantrum causing damage; to TAMPER is to mess with something and damage its proper state.
Conceptual Metaphor
TAMPERING IS VIOLATING INTEGRITY (like breaking a seal), TAMPERING IS POLLUTING (like adulterating a substance).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not "вмешиваться" in a general neutral sense (that's 'intervene'). Tamper implies malicious or secretive вмешательство.
- False friend: "темпера" (tempera paint) is unrelated.
Common Mistakes
- Using it intransitively without 'with' (Incorrect: 'He tampered the lock.' Correct: 'He tampered with the lock.').
- Using it in a positive context (e.g., 'I tampered with the recipe to improve it' sounds wrong; use 'adjusted' or 'modified').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'tamper' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with extremely rare exceptions. It consistently implies improper, harmful, or unauthorized interference.
The verb is almost always used intransitively with the preposition 'with': 'to tamper with something'.
'Adjust' is neutral and implies making correct or desired changes. 'Tamper' implies making secret, damaging, or unauthorized changes.
Very rarely in modern English. The noun form is virtually obsolete. The related noun is 'tampering' (e.g., 'evidence of tampering').