Tamper

/ˈtæmpər/

Meaning & Definition

verb
To interfere with or alter something, usually in a harmful or unauthorized manner.
The security team discovered that someone had tried to tamper with the evidence.
To make secret or unauthorized changes to something.
She was accused of tampering with the application's source code.
To meddle in a way that causes damage or harm.
It is illegal to tamper with election ballots.
To handle or manage something in a careless or haphazard way.
Please don't tamper with the machinery; it can be dangerous.

Etymology

Early 19th century: from the verb tamper, possibly derived from the obsolete noun ‘tamper’ meaning ‘to handle or deal with’.

Common Phrases and Expressions

tamper with:
To interfere with or make unauthorized changes.
tamper-proof:
Designed to be incapable of being tampered with.
don't tamper:
A warning not to interfere with something.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

To mess around with something.
He was just tampering with the electronics for fun.
To cheat or manipulate results.
They accused him of tampering with the game scores.