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Getting Smarter through Language

Using Suffixes to Create Nouns from Adjectives
(Advanced, C-Level)

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In English, many nouns are formed by adding suffixes to adjectives. These suffixes help express qualities, conditions, states, or relationships. For example, the adjective kind becomes the noun kindness, describing the quality of being kind; elegant becomes elegance; and sensitive beccomes sensitivity.

In this lesson, you will learn the most common suffixes used to turn adjectives into nouns along with examples and sentences to see how they are used in context. Understanding these patterns can help you expand your vocabulary, guess the meaning of new words, and express ideas more precisely.

Suffix -ance / -ancy

Meaning: state or quality of a condition or behavior.

The suffixes -ance and -ancy are added to adjectives to form abstract nouns that represent the state, quality, or condition of the adjective (arrogant → arrogance) or the process or result associated with that quality (ignorant → ignorance).

abundant → abundance

arrogant → arrogance

brilliant → brilliance, brilliancy

compliant → compliance

defiant → defiance

elegant → elegance

extravagant → extravagance

fragrant → fragrance

ignorant → ignorance

important → importance

relevant → relevance, relevancy

repentant → repentance

repugnant → repugnance, repugnancy

resistant → resistance

significant → significance

vigilant → vigilance

tolerant → tolerance

vacant → vacancy

Example sentences

Her speech had great relevance to current global issues.

We admired the elegance of the solution she proposed.

The protestors showed defiance in the face of new laws.

His brilliancy in math earned him awards.

Our team’s compliance with regulations impressed the inspectors.

Notice that adjectives ending in “-ant” take -ance or -ancy.

Suffix -cy

Meaning: state or condition of being something.

The suffix -cy forms abstract nouns that express a state, quality, or condition related to the base adjective. Specifically, when to an adjective, it highlights an inherent or measurable quality possessed by the subject.

accurate → accuracy

adequate → adequacy

competent → competency

consistent → consistency

delicate → delicacy

democratic → democracy

efficient → efficiency

fluent → fluency

intimate → intimacy

pirate → piracy

pregnant → pregnancy

private → privacy

urgent → urgency

vacant → vacancy

Example sentences

This tool is not very accurate. We need something with much higher accuracy.

We admired the efficiency of the new system.

She values her privacy when working at home.

The hotel had no vacancy during the holidays.

His fluency in three languages impressed the panel.

Suffix -dom

Meaning: state, condition, or domain.

The suffix -dom is not very productive with adjectives (that is, there are few adjectives that you can attach it to), and it is more often attached to nouns. (See Note 1.) It creates abstract nouns conveying the idea of a state or condition associated with the base word.

free → freedom

wise → wisdom (See Note 2)

bored → boredom

Example sentences

Many people cherish their personal freedom.

She shared her grandmother’s wisdom with us.

After hours of waiting, the boredom was unbearable.

The documentary explored the history of the British kingdom.

He aspired to stardom in Hollywood.

Notes

  1. Although -dom can attach to a few adjectives, it is more productive with other nouns. It involves a semantic shift from referring to an individual to referring to a domain, condition, or state associated with that individual or role.
  2. king → kingdom (territory or domain associated with a king or queen)

    martyr → martyrdom (condition or state of suffering for belief)

    serf → serfdom (system or condition of servitude)

    star → stardom (condition or status of “being a star”)

  3. “Wise” undergoes a change in pronunciation from / waɪz / to / ˈwɪz dəm / .

Up Next: -ence, -hood, -ity

Continue the lesson to learn more suffixes that can be attached to adjectives to create nouns.

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