interference

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The act of getting involved in something that does not concern you.

   The project was delayed by constant political interference.

2. 2
   noun

   Unwanted noise or distortion that disturbs a radio, TV, or other signal.

   There was too much interference to hear the broadcast clearly.

From interfere + -ence. The sense in physics was likely introduced by English polymath Thomas Young, which he used as early as 1801 in a paper in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.

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