Interfere with vs. Interfere in – Which is Correct?
Both “interfere with” and “interfere in” are correct, but they are not interchangeable. Use “interfere with” when something disrupts, obstructs, or affects a person, process, or object. Use “interfere in” when someone intrudes in a situation, decision, or affair, often without permission or authority to make decisions about it directly.
Because related verbs can also differ in meaning, compare them with Impinge vs. Infringe when choosing precise wording.
Interfere with or Interfere in – Which is Correct?
“Interfere with” and “interfere in” are both correct English phrases. The preposition changes the meaning and focus of the sentence.
Use interfere with when a person, event, object, or condition disrupts, obstructs, damages, or prevents something. For example, “Loud construction may interfere with your concentration.”
Use interfere in when someone becomes involved in another person’s affairs, a decision, or an ongoing situation. The phrase often suggests unwanted, excessive, or unauthorized involvement, although it can also describe official intervention.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the with phrase for a thing that gets in the way of another thing: noise interferes with sleep, and a technical fault interferes with communication.
Use the in phrase for a person or organization stepping into a matter: a neighbor interferes in a family dispute, or a government interferes in an industry.
A useful memory aid is: interfere with = disrupt; interfere in = intrude or intervene.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| interfere with | Verb phrase | To disrupt, obstruct, or affect something | The storm interfered with air travel. |
| interfere in | Verb phrase | To intrude in or intervene in a situation or affair | The manager should not interfere in their disagreement. |
How to Use Interfere With
Interfere with means to disrupt, obstruct, hinder, alter, or negatively affect something. The object after with can be a physical activity, communication system, plan, process, ability, or person’s concentration.
This phrase is common in everyday, academic, technical, medical, and professional English. It does not always imply deliberate behavior. A storm, illness, device, noise, or poor connection can interfere with something unintentionally.
Example 1: The bright lights interfered with the photographer’s ability to capture the scene.
Example 2: Please keep your phone away because it may interfere with the laboratory equipment.
Example 3: Lack of sleep can interfere with memory and decision-making.
Etymology of the Word Interfere With
Interfere comes from Latin roots meaning “to strike or come between.” It entered English through French and developed the sense of getting in the way or becoming involved in something. The preposition with identifies the person, object, activity, or process affected by the interference.
How to Use Interfere In
Interfere in means to become involved in a situation, relationship, decision, dispute, or area of activity. It frequently carries a negative suggestion that the involvement is unwanted, unnecessary, or beyond the person’s proper role.
However, interfere in is not always strongly negative. In formal contexts, authorities may interfere in a market, conflict, or legal matter to regulate conditions or prevent harm. The surrounding context determines whether the involvement is improper or justified.
Example 1: I do not want to interfere in your personal business.
Example 2: The government decided to interfere in the banking sector after the crisis.
Example 3: A good mediator can intervene without interfering in the parties’ final decision.
Etymology of the Word Interfere In
The verb interfere has the same Latin and French origins whether it is followed by with or in. In modern English, in highlights entry into or involvement in a matter. This meaning developed alongside the broader sense of coming between people, actions, or interests.
Related Concepts
Understanding the difference between disruption and involvement makes it easier to choose the correct preposition after interfere.
- Transitive verb: A transitive verb takes an object. In “Noise interfered with the lesson,” the lesson is the thing affected by the verb phrase.
- Prepositions: Prepositions establish relationships between words. In this expression, with commonly identifies what is disrupted, while in identifies the matter or situation entered.
- Intrusion: Intrusion means entering someone else’s affairs or space without being invited. This idea is often associated with interfere in.
- Obstruction: Obstruction means blocking or delaying an action or process. This idea is often associated with interfere with.
Examples from Media and Literature
The distinction appears across news reporting, fiction, technical writing, and everyday dialogue.
- News reporting: A report may state that severe weather interfered with flights, because the weather disrupted transportation.
- Political coverage: An article may describe a foreign power interfering in another country’s election, because the power became involved in the political process.
- Science and technology writing: A technical explanation may say that electromagnetic signals interfere with wireless communication.
- Fictional dialogue: A character may tell another character not to interfere in a family argument, emphasizing unwanted involvement.
- Workplace communication: A manager may explain that repeated interruptions interfere with productivity, focusing on the disruption caused by the interruptions.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase, interfere with or interfere in, to complete each sentence.
- The buzzing alarm began to ______ my concentration.
- It is inappropriate to ______ another department’s internal decisions.
- Heavy snowfall may ______ road transportation.
- The attorney warned the witness not to ______ the investigation.
- Her personal opinions should not ______ the hiring process.
Answer Key
- interfere with — The alarm disrupts concentration.
- interfere in — The person is intruding into another department’s affairs.
- interfere with — Snowfall may obstruct transportation.
- interfere with — In this sentence, the meaning is to obstruct or compromise the investigation.
- interfere with — Personal opinions may affect or disrupt the process.
Interfere With Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Disrupt | To interrupt or disturb the normal progress of something |
| Obstruct | To block movement, progress, or action |
| Hinder | To make an activity or achievement more difficult |
| Impede | To slow down or prevent progress, usually in formal writing |
| Affect | To produce a change or influence an outcome |
Interfere In Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Intrude | To enter someone’s affairs or private space without invitation |
| Intervene | To become involved in a situation to influence or change its outcome |
| Meddle | To interfere in other people’s affairs, usually in an unwelcome way |
| Interpose | To place oneself or something between people or opposing sides |
| Encroach | To intrude gradually on someone’s rights, space, or responsibilities |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is it correct to say “interfere with someone”?
Yes. “Interfere with someone” can mean to obstruct the person, disturb their activities, or hinder their progress. For example, “The injury interfered with his ability to work.”
Question 2: Is “interfere in” always negative?
No. It often suggests unwanted involvement, but it can also describe justified official action. For example, a government may interfere in an industry to protect consumers.
Question 3: Can “interfere with” and “interfere in” be used interchangeably?
Usually not. Use interfere with for disruption or obstruction and interfere in for involvement in a situation, decision, or affair.
Conclusion
Both interfere with and interfere in are grammatically correct. Choose interfere with when something disrupts, blocks, or affects another thing, and choose interfere in when someone intrudes or intervenes in a matter. Pro Tip: Using the precise preposition strengthens your clarity and protects your professional reputation.
