# alter

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈɒl.tə/ · frequency rank #6,540

## Definitions
1. To change the form or structure of.
2. To become different.
3. To tailor clothes to make them fit.
4. To castrate, neuter or spay (a dog or other animal).
5. To affect mentally, as by psychotropic drugs or illness.

## Etymology
From Old French alterer (French altérer), from Medieval Latin alterāre (“to make other”), from Latin alter (“the other”), from al- (seen in alius (“other”), alienus (“of another”), etc.; see alias, alien, etc.) + compar. suffix -ter.

## Easily confused with
- **ate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-ate)
- **ATR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-atr)
- **alto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-alto)
- **ante** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-ante)
- **Ayer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-ayer)
- **anger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-anger)
- **amber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-amber)
- **Alton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-alton)
- **Asher** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-asher)
- **Aztec** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-aztec)
- **Astor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-astor)
- **aster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-aster)
- **auger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-auger)
- **altho** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-altho)
- **artery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-artery)
- **antler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-antler)
- **althea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-althea)
- **altered** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alter-vs-altered)
- **alt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alt-vs-alter)
- **ale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ale-vs-alter)

## Common misspellings (4)
`allter`, `alterr`, `altre`, `atler`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/alter