Words change form to take on different meanings, and noun suffixes make that happen effortlessly. But what are they? Simply put, noun suffixes turn verbs and adjectives into nouns.
Related:
What Are Noun Suffixes?
A suffix is a group of letters that you add at the end of a word (prefixes appear at the beginning). It’s more than a spelling change, though, because it changes the word’s meaning and function.
In the case of noun suffixes, they make verbs or adjectives into nouns. To explain what noun suffixes are, for example, the word ‘teach.’ On its own, you classify it as a verb. But if you add the suffix -er, it transforms into a noun (teacher).
-Ness
Words that have the suffix -ness are mostly abstract or conceptual nouns. They represent emotions such as cheerfulness or a state of quality like redness.
Nouns ending with -ness are mostly adjectives (bitter for bitterness, red for redness, and cheerful for cheerfulness). Of course, there are some exceptions: you should not add -ness to words in -er or -est form (it’s wrong to write ‘sweeterness.’) The suffix -ness doesn’t work with participial adjectives (running cannot be runningness.)
| Word | Meaning |
| Kindness | The ability to act with warmth and compassion toward others. |
| Boldness | A characteristic you can best describe as bull-headed or brave. |
| Sharpness | The degree of keenness of one thing to another (literally or figuratively). |
| Weakness | A lack of strength, whether physical, mental, or moral. |
| Fairness | The practice of treating people equally and justly. |
-Ment
You can use the suffix -ment to turn verbs into nouns that describe concepts and experiences more precisely. When you add -ment to a verb, say, ‘disappoint’, the suffix gives a new word ‘disappointment’ that represents the “result” or “state” of that action. Another example? The verb ‘maltreat’ becomes ‘maltreatment.’
In addition, the -ment suffix can also denote accomplishments and processes. For instance, development is the process or the accomplishment of the verb develop.
| Word | Meaning |
| Encouragement | The act of giving support or confidence. |
| Improvement | Making something better in some way or even in many aspects. |
| Investment | The action of dedicating a certain time, energy, or money to something. |
| Treatment | The method used to care for or handle a problem or condition. |
| Punishment | A consequence for breaking rules or laws. |
-Ity
Like -ness, -ity turns adjectives into abstract nouns. For example, you can’t say, ‘The valid of our data is arguable.’ That would be incorrect. Instead, you would say, ‘The validity of our data is arguable.’
| Word | Meaning |
| Ability | The capacity of being able to do something |
| Creativity | The talent for generating original and imaginative ideas. |
| Responsibility | The duty of being accountable for one’s actions. |
| Visibility | The ability to be seen or noticed. |
| Sensitivity | The capacity to detect or react to small changes or emotions. |
-Ism
What do ideologies and practices have in common? Well, they usually have an -ism suffix. For instance, ‘capitalism,’ ‘maoism,’ ‘feminism,’ and ‘imperialism.’
| Word | Meaning |
| Socialism | A system where the government or community controls resources. |
| Heroism | The display of great courage, bravery, or self-sacrifice. |
| Nationalism | A strong sense of loyalty and devotion to one’s country. |
| Criticism | The act of analyzing or judging something. |
| Capitalism | An economic system based on private ownership. |
-Tion
“Educate” is what teachers do, but “education” is the knowledge acquired through that process. For example, ‘I got my education at home.’ Other words with -tion include reformulation, resignation, alteration, demonstration, and interaction. Here are more words with their meanings.
| Word | Meaning |
| Education | The process of acquiring knowledge. |
| Celebration | The act of commemorating something. |
| Creation | Process of bringing something to life. |
| Migration | The movement from one place to another. |
| Communication | The exchange of information. |
| Translation | The act of converting text into another language. |
| Exploration | The act of investigating or traveling. |
| Revolution | A dramatic change or transformation. |
| Operation | A planned or medical procedure. |
| Participation | The act of taking part in something. |
-Ant
Adding -ant to a verb turns it into a noun that refers to a person or something doing that action. For example, someone who attends to people is an ‘attendant.’ If you assist in a job, you’re an assistant.
| Word | Meaning |
| Assistant | Someone who helps a senior officer in a job. |
| Participant | Someone who takes part in an activity. |
| Consultant | A person who provides expert advice. |
| Immigrant | Someone who moves to another country. |
| Defendant | A person accused in a legal case. |
| Merchant | A person involved in trade or business. |
| Servant | Someone who performs duties for others. |
| Informant | A person tasked with providing confidential info. |
| Accountant | A professional dealing with financial records. |
| Attendant | A person who provides service or assistance. |
-Ist
This suffix refers to a profession, ideology, or specialty. So, someone who plays the piano is a pianist. If you are a biology graduate, you’re a biologist.
| Word | Meaning |
| Artist | A person who creates art. |
| Scientist | Someone who studies science. |
| Optimist | A person who always sees the bright side. |
| Journalist | A professional who reports news. |
| Biologist | A scientist specializing in living things. |
| Realist | Someone who accepts things as they are. |
| Feminist | A person who supports equality for women. |
| Linguist | An expert in languages. |
| Motorist | Someone who drives a vehicle. |
-Ent
Similar to -ant and -est, -ent also refers to a person (not their specific name, of course) or thing that performs an action. A “student” is someone who studies, while a “resident” is someone who resides in a place.
| Word | Meaning |
| Student | Someone engaged in learning. |
| Resident | A person living in a particular place. |
| Agent | A person who acts on behalf of another. |
| President | The leader of an organization or country. |
| Recipient | Someone who receives something. |
| Client | A person who receives professional services. |
| Dependent | Someone relying on another for support. |
| Competent | Someone capable of doing something well. |
| Opponent | A person who competes or argues against. |
| Descendent | Someone originating from an ancestor. |
-Al
This two-letter suffix is attached to verbs, creating nouns like denial, refusal, proposal, and betrayal.
| Word | Meaning |
| Arrival | The act of reaching a destination. |
| Approval | Agreeing or consenting to something. |
| Refusal | The act of declining something |
| Revival | The process of bringing something back. |
| Proposal | A formal suggestion or plan. |
| Dispersal | The action of spreading out. |
| Betrayal | The act of being disloyal |
| Withdrawal | Pulling back or retreating |
-Sion
Words that feature the -sion suffix often appear in words derived from Latin. Here are some of them:
| Word | Meaning |
| Erosion | The slow destruction of something over time, usually by natural forces. |
| Confusion | A state of mental uncertainty or lack of clarity. |
| Expansion | The process of making something bigger. It could be a business or your stomach increasing in size after a buffet. |
| Decision | A choice or judgment. |
| Invasion | When something (or someone) enters an area uninvited—whether it’s an army or your nosy neighbor. |
-Ence
Like other noun suffixes we’ve tackled above, -ence usually refers to a condition, state, or quality. For instance, ‘She finally snapped and lost her patience with the contractor.’ What other nouns end in -ence? You have incoherence and preference.
| Word | Meaning |
| Patience | The ability to remain calm in frustrating situations, such as dealing with slow Wi-Fi |
| Presence | The powerful effect someone has just by being in a room. |
| Absence | The opposite of presence. This is when someone’s not there, and you kinda (or really) miss them. |
| Confidence | The energy that makes people believe in being self-assured or certain. |
| Indifference | That “meh” attitude when you honestly don’t care either way. |
-Ance
Though -ance and -ence differ by just one letter, they serve distinct functions. This is because the suffix ‘-ance’ often emphasizes a process rather than just a state. For instance, the word ‘attend’ becomes ‘attendance’ or ‘resemble’ transforms into ‘resemblance.’
| Word | Meaning |
| Resistance | When you push against a locked door, the force stopping you is the resistance. |
| Endurance | Running a marathon? The ability to keep going is called endurance. |
| Acceptance | This is when you finally come to terms with reality. |
| Appearance | The way something looks or presents itself. |
| Tolerance | Deal with something different from your own, like when you put up with someone’s bad habits. |
-Ery
The addition of the suffix “-ery” to a verb can refer to a place where something happens, a collection of things, or even a certain behavior or characteristic. For instance, a bakery is a place where bread is made, while greenery refers to an abundance of plants. On the other hand, trickery describes the act of deception.
| Word | Meaning |
| Bakery | Where fresh bread and pastries are baked daily. |
| Greenery | A lush garden filled with plants and trees. |
| Slavery | A cruel system where people are owned and forced to work. |
| Mockery | Making fun of someone in a mean-spirited way. |
| Bravery | The act of being courageous. For instance, when you run into danger to save someone. |
-Age
Whether it’s baggage (meaning a collection of belongings) or damage (which denotes the result of harm), the ‘-age’ suffix carries a sense of accumulation. A perfect example is the word ‘wastage.’
| Word | Meaning |
| Storage | The act of keeping something for future use. |
| Breakage | The shattered pieces after dropping a glass. |
| Baggage | The emotional weight of past experiences. |
| Wreckage | It’s what’s left of the destruction of a ship |
| Coverage | The extent to which news reaches its audience. |
-Acy
The suffix ‘-acy’ takes everyday words and gives them a sense of importance. Words with ‘-acy‘ aren’t about objects because the suffix ‘-acy‘ typically forms nouns related to rules, qualities, or governance.
| Word | Meaning |
| Privacy | The ability to keep personal information or actions hidden from others. |
| Diplomacy | The skill of managing relationships and resolving conflicts without aggression. |
| Supremacy | A state of being in the highest position of power or control over others. |
| Accuracy | The degree to which something is correct. |
| Literacy | The ability to read, write, or understand a particular subject well. |
-Dom
Put ‘-dom‘ onto a word, and it turns into a whole state of being, place, or even a way of life. It turns words into nouns that describe a condition like freedom, a territory as in a kingdom, or a collective such as officialdom. ‘-Dom‘ often describes authority, a domain, or a state of being, which can be positive or negative
| Word | Meaning |
| Boredom | It’s a restless feeling when nothing is interesting. |
| Wisdom | The ability to make smart choices based on experience. |
| Martyrdom | The experience of suffering or dying for a belief. |
| Kingdom | A land ruled by a king, queen, or similar leader. |
| Stardom | The condition of being famous, especially in entertainment. |
-Ship
Words ending in ‘-ship‘ capture what you go through (hardship), the roles you take on (leadership), and the bonds you build (situationship). A friend is only an individual, but friendship is what maintains them. Leadership may be a position that comes with authority, but it also provides a lot of responsibility in decision-making.
| Word | Meaning |
| Friendship | A rare connection between two people. |
| Partnership | Balancing strengths and weaknesses as a team. |
| Companionship | Having someone around who makes the dull days better, even if they steal your fries. |
| Hardship | Life’s way of testing patience, resilience, and how much coffee you can handle. |
| Mentorship | Getting wisdom from someone who’s already made the mistakes you’re about to make. |
-Hood
Words with ‘-hood’ drop you into a phase, a whole journey, identity, or reality. If a word has ‘-hood’ at the end, it’s probably describing something you belong to, grow through, or navigate. For instance, while a child describes age, childhood is a whole era of scraped knees and wild imagination.
| Word | Meaning |
| Livelihood | How someone earns a living and sustains themselves financially. |
| Neighborhood | A community or area where people live close to one another and interact daily. |
| Parenthood | The lifelong role of raising and nurturing children. |
| Adulthood | The stage where a person takes on responsibilities, independence, and personal growth. |
| Brotherhood | A close connection between men, built on loyalty, support, and shared experiences. |
-Th
You can use ‘-th‘ to turn adjectives into nouns that describe state, quality, or result. Also, this suffix takes something in motion, like grow, and makes it timeless as in growth, while at the same time making it easy to name, track, or even strive for things.
| Word | Meaning |
| Growth | The journey of change, whether a plant, a person, or an idea getting bigger and better. |
| Warmth | The comforting heat of the sun, a hug, or a kind gesture. |
| Depth | How far something goes, whether it’s the ocean or a really deep conversation. |
| Health | The balance of feeling good, having energy, and your body functioning properly. |
| Width | Amount of space something takes up from side to side. |
Other Noun Suffixes
- -cy (such as urgency, normalcy, and privacy)
- -hood (such as childhood, brotherhood, and likelihood)
- -ice (like justice and malice)
- -th (such as growth and warmth)
