Root words are the foundation of words, terms, and phrases we use today. Read on to understand the difference between root and base words, how they function, and why they are the crux of expanding your vocabulary—knowing when to use the right words and why certain words are linked.
Related:
- What Are Prefixes? (With Examples and Meaning)
- What Is a Phrasal Verb?
- What Is a Verb and Its Types, Forms, and Tenses?
What Is the Definition of Root Words?
As mentioned earlier, root words (a type of morpheme) are the building blocks of the words we use today.
A root word often can not stand on its own. For example, the root word “scrib” means “to write.” However, it needs a suffix or prefix to be a complete word. You can add the suffix “-er” to form the word “scriber.”
Are Root Words and Base Words the Same?
Many people think that root words and base words are the same, but they are not.
Root words can function independently, but there are times when they need to be combined with additional affixes to complete a word. On the other hand, base words are independent.
List of Common Root Words
In this next section, we’ll highlight common root words and what they mean, as well as provide examples.
Common Greek Root Words
| Greek Root | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropo | Man; human; humanity | Anthropologist, philanthropy |
| Auto | Self | Autobiography, automobile |
| Bio | Life | Biology, biography |
| Chron | Time | Chronological, chronic |
| Dyna | Power | Dynamic, dynamite |
| Dys | Bad; hard; unlucky | Dysfunctional, dyslexic |
| Gram | Thing written | Epigram, telegram |
| Graph | Writing | Graphic, phonograph |
| Hetero | Different | Heteronym, heterogeneous |
| Homo | Same | Homonym, homogenous |
| Hydr | Water | Hydration, dehydrate |
| Hypo | Below; beneath | Hypothermia, hypothetical |
| Logy | Study of | Biology, psychology |
| Meter/metr | Measure | Thermometer, perimeter, metrics |
| Micro | Small | Microbe, microscope |
| Mis/miso | Hate | Misanthrope, misogyny |
| Mono | One | Monologue, monotonous |
| Morph | Form; shape | Morphology, morphing |
| Nym | Name | Antonym, synonym |
| Phil | Love | Philanthropist, philosophy |
| phobia | Fear | Claustrophobia, phobic |
| Phon | Sound | Phone, symphony |
| Photo/phos | Light | Photograph, phosphorous |
| Pseudo | False | Pseudonym, pseudoscience |
| Psycho | Soul; spirit | Psychology, psychic |
| Scope | Viewing instrument | Microscope, telescope |
| Techno | Art; science; skill | Technique, technological |
| Tele | Far off | Television, telephone |
| Therm | Heat | Thermal, thermometer |
Common Latin Root Words
| Latin Root | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Ambi | Both | Ambiguous, ambidextrous |
| Aqua | Water | Aquarium, aquamarine |
| Aud | To hear | Audience, audition |
| Bene | Good | Benefactor, benevolent |
| Cent | One hundred | Century, percent |
| Circum | Around | Circumference, circumstance |
| Contra/counter | Against | Contradict, encounter |
| Dict | To say | Dictation, dictator |
| Duc/duct | To lead | Conduct, induce |
| Fac | To do; to make | Factory, manufacture |
| Form | Shape | Conform, reform |
| Fort | Strength | Fortitude, fortress |
| Fract | To break | Fracture, fraction |
| Ject | Throw | Projection, rejection |
| Jud | Judge | Judicial, prejudice |
| Mal | Bad | Malevolent, malefactor |
| Mater | Mother | Material, maternity |
| Mit | To send | Transmit, admit |
| Mort | Death | Mortal, mortician |
| Multi | Many | Multimedia, multiple |
| Pater | Father | Paternal, paternity |
| Port | To carry | Portable, transportation |
| Rupt | To break | Bankrupt, disruption |
| Scrib/scribe | To write | Inscription, prescribe |
| Sect/sec | To cut | Bisect, section |
| Sent | To feel; to send | Consent, resent |
| Spect | To look | Inspection, spectator |
| Struct | To build | Destruction, restructure |
| Vid/vis | To see | Video, televise |
| Vssssssoc | Voice; to call | Vocalize, advocate |
Affixes
An affix is a set of letters used to change a word’s grammar or meaning. There are three types: suffix, prefix, and infix. Out of the three, infixes are less common.
Suffixes
Suffixes appear at the end of a word to change its meaning.
| Suffix | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -able, -ible | Is; can be | Affordable, sensible |
| -al, -ial | Having characteristics of | Universal, facial |
| -ed | Past tense verbs; adjectives | the cat walked, the walked cat |
| -en | Made of | Golden |
| -er, -or | One who; person connected with | Teacher, professor |
| -er | More | Taller |
| -est | The most | Tallest |
| -ful | Full of | Helpful |
| -ic | Having characteristics of | Poetic |
| -ing | Verb forms; present participles | Sleeping |
| -ion, -tion, -ation, -tion | Act; process | Submission, motion, relation, edition |
| -ity, -ty | State of | Activity, society |
| -ive, -ative, -itive | Adjective form of noun | Active, comparative, sensitive |
| -less | Without | Hopeless |
| -ly | How something is | Lovely |
| -ment | State of being; act of | Contentment |
| -ness | State of; condition of | Openness |
| -ous, -eous, -ious | Having qualities of | Riotous, courageous, gracious |
| -s, -es | More than one | Trains, trenches |
| -y | Characterized by | Gloomy |
Prefixes
On the other hand, a prefix appears at the start of a word to change its meaning.
| Prefix | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Anti- | Against | Anticlimax |
| De- | Opposite | Devalue |
| Dis- | Not; opposite of | Discover |
| En-, Em- | Cause to | Enact, empower |
| Fore- | Before; front of | Foreshadow, forearm |
| In-, Im- | In | Income, impulse |
| In-, Im-, Il-, Ir- | Not | Indirect, immoral, illiterate, irreverent |
| Inter- | Between; among | Interrupt |
| Mid- | Middle | Midfield |
| Mis- | Wrongly | Misspell |
| Non- | Not | Nonviolent |
| Over- | Over; too much | Overeat |
| Pre- | Before | Preview |
| Re- | Again | Rewrite |
| Semi- | Half; partly; not fully | Semifinal |
| Sub- | Under | Subway |
| Super- | Above; beyond | Superhuman |
| Trans- | Across | Transmit |
| Un- | Not; opposite of | Unusual |
| Under- | Under; too little | Underestimate |
