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⇱ back formation - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
back′ forma′tion, [Ling.]
  1. Linguisticsthe analogical creation of one word from another word that appears to be a derived or inflected form of the first by dropping the apparent affix or by modification.
  2. Linguisticsa word so formed, as typewrite from typewriter.
  • 1885–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
back formation n
  1. the invention of a new word on the assumption that a familiar word is derived from it. The verbs edit and burgle were so created from editor and burglar
  2. a word formed by this process
'back formation' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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