Cool MateInterference vs Intervention
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Interference
Intervention
| Interference | Intervention | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɪntəˈfɪərəns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɪntərˈfɪrəns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɪntəˈvenʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɪntərˈvenʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | Something that stops or disturbs another thing from happening. | An action taken to improve a situation, especially to help someone in trouble. |
| Example | They resent foreign interference in the internal affairs of their country. | calls for government intervention to save the steel industry |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | undue, unwarranted, bureaucratic, avoid, eliminate, minimize, without interference, interference in, interference with | active, direct, decisive, make, call for, demand, intervention against, intervention by, intervention from, powers of intervention, the right of intervention, active, direct, decisive, make, call for, demand, intervention against, intervention by, intervention from, powers of intervention, the right of intervention |
| Antonyms | assistance, help, support | neglect, abandonment |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'interfere' as a verb., Using 'interference' in informal contexts., Mismatching the preposition; should be 'interference with' not 'interference in'. | Confused with 'intercede', which means to intervene on behalf of someone else., Using it in an incorrect context, such as 'the intervention was successful in sports'., Mixing it up with 'invention', which relates to creating something new. |
| Usage notes | Use 'interference' in contexts like science or communication. It's neutral and more formal, so avoid in casual or slang conversations. | Typically used in formal or professional contexts, such as psychology or education. Avoid in casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Interference vs Intervention
What's the difference between Interference and Intervention?
Interference: Something that stops or disturbs another thing from happening. Intervention: An action taken to improve a situation, especially to help someone in trouble.
Which is more common: Interference and Intervention?
Interference is the most common in everyday English.
Are Interference and Intervention the same CEFR level?
Interference: C1, Intervention: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Interference and Intervention?
Interference: noun, Intervention: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Interference: They resent foreign interference in the internal affairs of their country. Intervention: calls for government intervention to save the steel industry
Can I use Interference and Intervention interchangeably?
Not always. Interference and Intervention are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.