tamper

1 of 2

verb

tam·​per ˈtam-pər How to pronounce tamper (audio)
tampered; tampering ˈtam-p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce tamper (audio) ; tampers

intransitive verb

1
a
: to interfere so as to weaken or change for the worse
used with with
did not want to tamper with tradition
b
: to try foolish or dangerous experiments
used with with
c
: to render something harmful or dangerous by altering its structure or composition
was charged with tampering with consumer products
2
a
: to carry on underhand or improper negotiations (as by bribery)
b
: to inflict physical harm, threats, intimidation, or corrupt persuasion with the goal of influencing or preventing a witness's testimony : to engage in witness tampering
used with with
These alleged efforts were the basis for Mueller's accusation that Manafort was tampering with a witness, attempting to coach testimony, which would have violated the terms of his bail.Franklin Foer
tamperer noun
plural tamperers
tamperproof adjective

tamper

2 of 2

noun

tamp·​er ˈtam-pər How to pronounce tamper (audio)
plural tampers
: a tool for tamping : tamp entry 2
Using a tamper, tamp the coffee down into the filter …Lexa Roséan
After each truckload of earth fell onto the cobblestones of the Piazza's perimeter, a steamroller flattened it, and five relaxed-looking workmen … patted it smooth with shovels and wooden tampers, and hosed it down.Lis Harris

Examples of tamper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
By providing real-time data on each piece of luggage, the system substantially reduces the risks associated with lost or tampered items and acts as a robust deterrent against potential security breaches. Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 Traffic surges, straying from trails, plucking flowers, and tampering of any sort can greatly impact that increasingly fragile dynamic. Krista Simmons and J.d. Simkins, Sunset Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 Testimony Monday also delved into evidence related to a tampering charge against Gutierrez-Reed. CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024 Gutierrez Reed faces up to three years in prison if convicted of involuntary manslaughter and evidence tampering. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024 On various occasions, Wright cited his own personal testing—which Hough reminded him repeatedly was inadmissible—to explain how documents might end up bearing signs of tampering for innocuous reasons. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024 Rules education on tampering and transfer recruiting rules was provided to the entire football staff as a result. USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024 Both Fotis Dulos and Troconis were previously arrested on suspicion of evidence tampering in the disappearance. Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Halls, the safety coordinator on set, told jurors that weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who is on trial on charges of manslaughter and evidence tampering, twice handed the revolver to Baldwin. CBS News, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
Its chips are used in iPhones and Apple watches to support advanced near-field communications security mechanisms such as tag originality, tamper detection, and authentication for Apple Pay. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 28 Nov. 2023 When not in use, that tamper hangs magnetically to the left of the coffee grind dispenser. Jonathan Bender, Popular Mechanics, 7 Dec. 2022 Detectives contacted the seller and set up a meeting on Feb. 2 to buy the concrete tamper, investigators said. Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2023 But the main thing is that light, that trust light is designed to be tamper resistant. WIRED, 9 Nov. 2023 Officials received tamper alerts for their ankle monitors shortly thereafter. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2023 Joiner contacted the Rill family and offered to give the tamper back on Feb. 10 in exchange for $1,000. Molly Fellin Spence, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2023 Escondido police found a 38-year-old man selling the concrete tamper online, Baeder said. Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Feb. 2023 This focus on tamper proof and open data is the main value proposition for space scientists, according to Franck Marchis, senior astronomer at SETI and chief science officer at telescope startup Unistellar. Ben Weiss, Fortune Crypto, 4 July 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably from Middle French temprer to temper, mix, meddle — more at temper entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tamper was in 1567

Dictionary Entries Near tamper

Cite this Entry

“Tamper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tamper. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tamper

verb
tam·​per ˈtam-pər How to pronounce tamper (audio)
tampered; tampering -p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce tamper (audio)
1
: to interfere in a secret or wrongful way
2
a
: to interfere so as to cause a weakening or change for the worse
b
: to try foolish or dangerous experiments

Legal Definition

tamper

intransitive verb
tam·​per
1
: to bring improper influence to bear (as by bribery or intimidation)
used with with
tampered with the jurors
2
: to alter or interfere in an unauthorized or improper manner
used with with
tampered with evidence

More from Merriam-Webster on tamper

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