suffix
Suffix (noun) means a group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or its grammatical role, such as -ness in kindness or -ed in walked. Example: “Adding the suffix -less turns hope into hopeless.”
How to use suffix
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA word ending that changes what the word means or how it is used.
Neutral; standard in grammar teaching and on official forms alike.
Suffixes often change word class: -ly makes adverbs, -ness and -tion make nouns, -ful and -less make adjectives.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Adding the _____ -less turns hope into hopeless.
Etymology
From Latin suffixus "fastened underneath or after", the past participle of suffigere, from sub- "under, after" and figere "to fasten".
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a prefix and a suffix?
A prefix goes at the front of a word and usually changes its meaning — un- in unhappy. A suffix goes at the end and often changes the part of speech as well as the meaning — -ness turns the adjective happy into the noun happiness.
What is the difference between a suffix and an affix?
Affix is the umbrella term for anything attached to a word to modify it. Prefixes, suffixes and infixes are all types of affix; a suffix is specifically the kind that attaches to the end.
What does suffix mean on a form?
It means the title or generation marker that follows your name, such as Jr., Sr., II, III, or a qualification like MD or PhD. If none applies, the field is left blank.
What is the meaning of suffix?
"suffix" (noun) means a group of letters added to the end of a word to change its meaning or its grammatical role, such as -ness in kindness or -ed in walked.
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