List of Important Suffixes
Noun Suffixes
Suffixes
Meaning
Example
-sion, -tion
state of being
concession, transition, abbreviation
-ship
position held
fellowship, ownership, kinship, internship
-ness
state of being
heaviness, sadness, rudeness, testiness
-ment
condition of
argument, endorsement, punishment
-ity, -ty
quality of
inactivity, veracity, parity, serenity
-ist
one who
chemist, narcissist, plagiarist
-ism
doctrine, belief
communism, narcissism, skepticism
-er, -or
one who
trainer, protector, narrator
-dom
state of being
freedom, kingdom, boredom
-ance, -ence
state or quality
maintenance, eminence, assurance
-al
act or process of
refusal, recital, rebuttal
-acy
state or quality
privacy, fallacy, delicacy
List of Important Suffixes
Adjective Suffixes
Suffixes
Meaning
Example
-y
characterized by
sleazy, hasty, greasy, nerdy, smelly
-less
without
endless, ageless, lawless, effortless
-ive
having the nature of
creative, punitive, divisive, decisive
-ish
having the quality of
fiendish, childish, snobbish
-ious, -ous
characterized by
nutritious, portentous, studious
-ic, -ical
pertaining to
musical, mythic, domestic, chiastic
-ful
notable for
fanciful, resentful, woeful, doubtful
-esque
reminiscent of
picturesque, statuesque, burlesque
-al
pertaining to
regional, grammatical, emotional, coastal
-able, -ible
capable of being
edible, presentable, abominable, credible
List of Important Suffixes
Verb Suffixes
Suffixes
-ize, -ise*
-ify, -fy
-en
Meaning
Example
become
civilize, humanize, socialize, valorize
make or become
terrify, satisfy, rectify, exemplify
become
enlighten, awaken, strengthen
Adverb Suffixes
Suffixes
Meaning
Example
-ward
in what manner something is
being done
in a certain direction
backward, wayward, awkward, afterward
-wise
in relation to
clockwise, edgewise, lengthwise, otherwise
-ly
bravely, simply, honestly, gladly