Suffix Definition and Examples! Learn 45 common suffixes with meaning and examples in English: -able/-ible, -ac/-ic, -acy, -ious, -al, -ance/-ence, -dom, -eer/-er/-or, -escent, -escent…with ESL printable infographics.
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Suffix Definition
Suffixes are placed after words to modify their meanings; like prefixes, they are groups of letters that rarely serve a purpose unless attached to a word.
In order word, in linguistics, a suffix (sometimes termed post) is an affix which is placed after the stem of a word. Common examples are case ending, which indicate the grammatical cased of nouns or adjectives, and verb endings, which form the conjugation of verbs.
Suffix List in English
Here is a list of some of them to give you an idea of how to identify suffixes.
|
Suffix |
Suffix Meaning |
Suffix Examples |
| -able/-ible | capable of being | portable, legible, preventable, adaptable |
| -ac/-ic | like/related to | cardiac, iconic, organic |
| -acy | state/quality of being | privacy, legitimacy, bureaucracy, aristocracy, theocracy |
| -ious | full of | gracious, malicious, ambitious, cautious |
| -al | related to | logical, philosophical, bacterial, theatrical, natural |
| -ance/-ence | state/quality of being | maintenance, permanence, brilliance, defiance, annoyance |
| -dom | condition of, state, realm | freedom, kingdom, boredom, freedom, wisdom |
| -eer/-er/-or | person who | mountaineer, writer, counsellor, engineer, volunteer, inventor, legislator |
| -escent | becoming, to be | adolescent, fluorescent |
| -esque | like/reminiscent of | picturesque, kafkaesque, grotesque, burlesque |
| -ess | female | actress, heiress, lioness |
| -ful | full of | helpful, thankful, cheerful |
| -fy | to make | magnify, electrify, amplify, falsify, terrify |
| -hood | state, condition, or quality | childhood, neighborhood, motherhood |
| -ian | relating to | martian, utopian, pediatrician |
| -iferous | containing, yielding | vociferous, carboniferous |
| -ise | make, become | civilise, terrorise, lengthwise, otherwise |
| -ish | having qualities of | hellish, fiendish, apish, brutish, childish |
| -ism | doctrine, belief, practice | favouritism, communism, altruism, despotism, heroism |
| -ist | person who | chemist, florist, artist, linguist, pianist |
| -ity | state/quality of being | ingenuity, oddity, abnormality, civility, necessity |
-ite |
resident of, follower, product of | suburbanite, luddite, dynamite |
| -ine | relating to | canine, feminine, masculine |
| -ive | inclined to; quality of; that which | attractive, expensive, repulsive |
| -less | without | brainless, endless, fearless, helpless, homeless |
| -like | resembling, characteristic | childlike, homelike, lifelike |
| -ment | state/quality of being, result of action, process | enjoyment, embankment, abridgement, movement, placement, shipment |
| -ness | state of being | thinness, loneliness, kindness, shyness, weakness |
| -oid | like | celluloid, ovoid, humanoid, tabloid, hemorrhoid |
| -ology | study of, science of | anthropology, archaeology, biology |
| -ose | full of | adipose, verbose |
| -osis | process, condition | hypnosis, psychosis, diagnosis, prognosis, neurosis, psychosis |
| -ory | relating to | armory, dormitory, laboratory |
| -ous | full of | illustrious, nauseous, hazardous, humorous, wondrous |
| -pathy | feeling, diseased | sympathy, apathy, neuropathy |
| -phone | sound | homophone, telephone, microphone |
| -ship | position held | friendship, membership, authorship, citizenship, friendship |
| -sion | state/quality of being | torsion, confusion, depression, tension |
| -some | characterized by, group of | cumbersome, quarrelsome, foursome |
| –sophy/sophic | wisdom, knowledge | philosophy, theosophy, anthroposophic |
| -tion | state/quality of being | transition, attention, caution, fascination |
| -tude | state/quality of being | fortitude, certitude |
| -th | state or quality | depth, length, strength |
| -ware | things of the same type or material | hardware, software, kitchenware |
| -y | characterised by | funny, greedy |
Suffixes in English | Suffix Meaning | Infographics
45 Common Suffixes with Suffix Definition and Examples – Image 1
45 Common Suffixes with Suffix Definition and Examples – Image 2
Common Suffixes with Suffix Definition and Examples – Image 3
Suffix Definition, Suffix Meaning & Examples in English
Please l need further information on this part of language.
Additionally can you give me.. some details of the 8 parts of speech. Please.
Are you a boy or girl
This is helpful to my class
Hi
God, this is the fourth page in a row skipping the suffix ‘-ly’ as if it didn’t exist.
Guys, are you all kidding me? No such words as ‘friendly’, ‘sickly’ etc?
No
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helped me
helped me
help me do an assignment
it is cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool
I use it for ela
The suffixes -ment and -ness, do not have correct examples.
what does suffix -ing mean?