Get more practice with the workbook
Build vocabulary faster with structured lessons and activities.
4.6
✔ Add 3,700 must-know words to your vocabulary.
✔ All-in-one dictionary, thesaurus, & workbook.
✔ 147 categorized lessons, 428 practical activities, 632 pages.
✔ Suitable for students & professionals of all ages.
✔ Ideal preparation for: TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT
4.8
✔ Add 2,000 must-know adjectives to your vocabulary.
✔ All-in-one dictionary, thesaurus, & workbook.
✔ 99 categorized lessons, 232 practical activities, 354 pages.
✔ Suitable for students & professionals of all ages.
✔ Ideal preparation for: TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT
4.8
✔ Add 1,500 must-know verbs to your vocabulary.
✔ All-in-one dictionary, thesaurus, & workbook.
✔ 70 categorized lessons, 175 practical activities, 266 pages.
✔ Suitable for students & professionals of all ages.
✔ Ideal preparation for: TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT
suffix
Suffix (noun) – Meaning, Examples & Etymology
IPA:
What does suffix mean?
A string of letters or sounds added to the end of a word to change its meaning or form a new word.
"The suffix '-ly' was added to the verb to form an adverb."
Detailed Meaning of Suffix
In the English language, suffixes are used to create new words or to change the grammatical function of a word. There are different types of suffixes including inflectional suffixes, which change the grammatical function of a word without changing the word's meaning, such as -ed or -s, and derivational suffixes, which create new words by changing the word's meaning, such as -ness or -able. For example, the word "walk" with the inflectional suffix -ed becomes "walked" and the word "happy" with the derivational suffix -ness becomes "happiness". Understanding suffixes can be important in understanding the meaning of words and in building vocabulary. It also helps in identifying the word's part of speech, and its use in a sentence.
Example Sentences for Suffix
1. The English language has various suffixes that modify word meanings.
2. Adding the suffix "-ly" transforms an adjective into an adverb.
3. The suffix "-ment" is commonly used to form nouns from verbs.
4. She struggled to understand the meaning of the suffix "-able."
5. The suffix "-ish" can be added to words to indicate approximation.
6. The student had to identify the root word and suffix in the given word.
7. The suffix "-tion" is used to form nouns from verbs in many cases.
Origin and Etymology of Suffix
The noun 'suffix' has its etymology rooted in Latin. It is derived from the Latin word 'suffigere,' which combines 'sub,' meaning 'under,' and 'figere,' meaning 'to fix' or 'to attach.' This combination aptly encapsulates the concept of a string of letters or sounds added to the end of a word, as a suffix is something that is 'fixed under' the root word to alter its meaning or create a new word. The etymology of 'suffix' underscores its fundamental role in linguistics, highlighting how these appended elements serve to modify, extend, or refine the meanings of words, contributing to the flexibility and expressiveness of language.
Quiz Question - Test Your Understanding
Find the correct meaning of the noun suffix:
Try Again!
Correct!
More Usage Examples of Suffix
1. He found it challenging to memorize the different suffixes in medical terminology.
2. The word "happiness" includes the suffix "-ness," which denotes a state or quality.
3. The suffix "-er" can be used to indicate a person or thing that performs an action.
4. The suffix "-less" is often added to words to indicate the absence of something.
5. The linguist explained the role of suffixes in word formation.
6. She struggled to determine if the word had a prefix or a suffix.
7. The suffix "-ize" can be added to verbs to indicate the process or act of.
8. The word "singer" includes the suffix "-er," which denotes a person who sings.
9. The dictionary provides definitions for various word roots and their corresponding suffixes.
10. The spelling of the word changes when a suffix is added.
11. The suffix "-ful" can be added to words to indicate abundance or possessing a quality.
12. The English language has both native and borrowed suffixes.
13. The suffix "-ology" is often used to form nouns denoting the study of a particular subject.
Synonyms and Related Words for Suffix
Related Vocabulary Practice
Test your understanding of suffix in related quizzes, flashcards, and spelling activities:
Additional and Supplementary
Choose an activity:
Dialogue and Articulation
Choose an activity:
Language and Expression 2
Choose an activity:
✔ Add 3,700 must-know words to your vocabulary.
✔ All-in-one dictionary, thesaurus, & workbook.
✔ 147 categorized lessons, 428 practical activities, 632 pages.
✔ Suitable for students & professionals of all ages.
✔ Ideal preparation for: TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT