A suffix is a letter or a group of letters attached to the end of a word to form a new word or to alter the grammatical function of the original word. For example, the verb read can be made into the noun reader by adding the suffix -er; read can be made into the adjective readable by adding the suffix -able.
Understanding the meanings of the common suffixes can help us deduce the meanings of new words that we encounter. The table below defines and illustrates 26 common suffixes.
Common Suffixes
| Noun Suffixes | ||
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
| -acy | state or quality | privacy |
| -al | act or process of | refusal |
| -ance, -ence | state or quality of | maintenance, eminence |
| -dom | place or state of being | freedom, kingdom |
| -er, -or | one who | trainer, protector |
| -ism | doctrine, belief | communism |
| -ist | one who | chemist |
| -ity, -ty | quality of | veracity |
| -ment | condition of | argument |
| -ness | state of being | heaviness |
| -ship | position held | fellowship |
| -sion, -tion | state of being | concession, transition |
| Verb Suffixes | ||
| -ate | become | eradicate |
| -en | become | enlighten |
| -ify, -fy | make or become | terrify |
| -ize, -ise | become | civilize |
| Adjective Suffixes | ||
| -able, -ible | capable of being | edible, presentable |
| -al | pertaining to | regional |
| -esque | reminiscent of | picturesque |
| -ful | notable for | fanciful |
| -ic, -ical | pertaining to | musical, mythic |
| -ious, -ous | characterized by | nutritious, portentous |
| -ish | having the quality of | fiendish |
| -ive | having the nature of | creative |
| -less | without | endless |
| -y | characterized by | sleazy |
