modifier

noun

mod·i·fi·er ˈmä-də-ˌfī(-ə)r

: one that modifies

: a word or phrase that makes specific the meaning of another word or phrase

: a gene that modifies the effect of another

Example Sentences

In “a red hat,” the adjective “red” is a modifier describing the noun “hat.” In “They were talking loudly,” the adverb “loudly” is a modifier of the verb “talking.”

Recent Examples on the Web Before the recent rise of AI chatbots, image generators and voice modifiers, studios used the technology to fill out battle scenes and for digital animation, said Joshua Glick, a film and media studies scholar at Bard College. —

Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2023 No Match Game – Bungie has killed off one of Destiny’s most exhausting modifiers, which makes shields borderline immune to non-matching weapons in higher difficulties. —

Paul Tassi, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023 Overwhelmingly, people use emoji with skin tone modifiers for self-reference. —

Ashley Carman, The Verge, 12 Dec. 2018 Even without the now almost ubiquitous modifier toxic in front of it, masculinity has become a dirty word. —

Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 31 Oct. 2019 Danglers are also called dangling modifiers and dangling modifying phrases. —

June Casagrande, Burbank Leader, 12 Sep. 2019 Pictured here is the 2020 Type R in its new Boost Blue exterior color, which reminds us of the blue hue often used by Honda modifier Spoon. —

Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 10 Jan. 2020 Its technical manager Wynand Nortje says its method of melting the plastic into the bitumen modifier minimizes the risk of microplastics. —

Emma Reynolds, CNN, 30 Oct. 2019 Compound modifiers come fast and easy for french fries cut by hand, then fried twice and dusted with coarse salt and herbs for $3. —

Mike Sutter, ExpressNews.com, 22 Nov. 2019 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'modifier.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.