Alter vs. altar
Alter and altar sound nearly the same, and are only a single letter apart. Still, they are not the same. Both words belong to separate parts of speech, and are unrelated in meaning. And so should be used accordingly:
- Alter is a verb that means to change or modify something.
- Altar is a noun that refers to “a structure with a flat top, often shaped like a table, that is used in some religious ceremonies”.
“Alter” / “altar”, used in sentences
| Examples: “alter”, used in sentences |
|---|
| Prices did not alter significantly during 2019. He had altered so much I scarcely recognized him. The landscape has been radically altered by changes in the climate. He has the power to fundamentally alter the course of history. |
| Examples: “altar”, used in sentences |
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| He built an altar to God and made a sacrifice. He placed the candles on the altar. Helen and Tony kneeled at the altar. The bride approached the altar. |
Altar, synonyms
- assembly
- board
- church table
- pedestal
- shrine
Alter, synonyms
- adjust
- amend
- change
- develop
- modify
- reshape
- revamp
- revise
- shift
- transform
- vary
Word origin (of altar/alter)
late 14c., “to change (something), make different in some way,” from Old French alterer “to change, alter,” from Medieval Latin alterare “to change,” from Latin alter “the other (of the two)”.
Old English alter, altar “altar,” from Latin altare (plural altaria) “high altar, altar for sacrifice to the great gods,” perhaps originally meaning “burnt offerings”.
Read about other misused words
Sources
- Oxford Learner’s Dictionary on “altar” and “alter”. Accessed 18 March, 2024.
