back-formation
Syllables: back-for·ma·tion/ˌbæk.fɔːˈmeɪ̯.ʃən/
More pronunciations (1)Fewer pronunciations
Scotland/ˌbak.fɔɾˈme.ʃən/
back-formation noun: the process by which a new word is formed from an older word by interpreting the former as a derivative of the latter, often by removing a morpheme (real or perceived) from the older word, such as the verb burgle, formed by removing -ar (perceived as an agent-noun suffix) from burglar.
Noun
back-formation (countable and uncountable, plural back-formations)
- The process by which a new word is formed from an older word by interpreting the former as a derivative of the latter, often by removing a morpheme (real or perceived) from the older word, such as the verb burgle, formed by removing -ar (perceived as an agent-noun suffix) from burglar.
- A word created in this way.
- Back-formations, such as tambour (for “play the tambourine”), are a staple of comedic wordplay.
- Synonyms:
- back-form
back-formation meaning in Arabic and Vietnamese
back-formation in Arabic
- linguistic process
- اشْتِقَاق عَكْسِيّ ištiqāq ʕaksiyy
- word formed by this linguistic process
- مُشْتَقَّة عَكْسِيًّا
back-formation in Vietnamese
- linguistic process
- phái sinh ngược
Synonyms of back-formation
Forms of back-formation
| plural | back-formations |
|---|---|
| alternative form | backformation |
| alternative form | back formation |
Origin of back-formation
From back- + formation. Coined by British lexicographer and philologist, primary editor of the Oxford English Dictionary James Murray in 1888.
Words formed from back-formation
Words that rhyme with back-formation
- station
- collation
- accommodation
- presentation
- derivation
- information
- modulation
- translation
- application
- fixation
- generation
- orientation
48 more rhymesFewer rhymes
- citation
- combination
- communication
- conjugation
- constellation
- determination
- elevation
- operation
- relation
- reservation
- alternation
- condensation
- conversation
- deviation
- excavation
- foliation
- formation
- foundation
- incarnation
- interpretation
- representation
- retardation
- speculation
- termination
- abbreviation
- adaptation
- articulation
- bifurcation
- concentration
- congregation
- declination
- degradation
- expectation
- extenuation
- gradation
- observation
- population
- preparation
- reconciliation
- rotation
- separation
- situation
- vexation
- vindication
- accumulation
- administration
- aggregation
- appropriation
Questions about back-formation
- What does back-formation mean?
- Back-formation means the process by which a new word is formed from an older word by interpreting the former as a derivative of the latter, often by removing a morpheme (real or perceived) from the older word, such as the verb burgle, formed by removing -ar (perceived as an agent-noun suffix) from burglar.
- What is back-formation in Arabic?
- Back-formation in Arabic is اشْتِقَاق عَكْسِيّ (ištiqāq ʕaksiyy), مُشْتَقَّة عَكْسِيًّا. See Back-formation meaning in Arabic.
- What part of speech is back-formation?
- Back-formation is a noun.
- How do you pronounce back-formation?
- Back-formation is pronounced /ˌbæk.fɔːˈmeɪ̯.ʃən/ (UK).
- What is the plural of back-formation?
- The plural of back-formation is back-formations.
Words near back-formation in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: back-formation (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-back-formation.wav.
Cite this entry: “back-formation.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/back-formation. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.