Commonly used Suffixes

Front

Suffix meaning "state or quality"

Back

-acy, -ance, -ence, -ity, -ty (Examples: Privacy, maintenance, eminence, inactivity, serenity)

Front

Suffix meaning "having the nature of"

Back

-ive (Examples: Creative, punitive, divisive, decisive)

Front

Suffix meaning "act or process of"

Back

-al (Examples: Refusal, recital, rebuttal)

Front

Suffix meaning "make or become"

Back

-ify, -fy (Examples: Terrify, satisfy, rectify, exemplify)

Front

Suffix meaning "place or state of being"

Back

-dom, -ness, -sion, -tion (Examples: Freedom, kingdom, sadness, concession, abbreviation)

Front

Suffix meaning "full of"

Back

-ful (Examples: Joyful, hopeful, beautiful)

Front

Suffix meaning "characterized by"

Back

-ous (Examples: Joyous, curious, famous)

Front

Suffix meaning "pertaining to"

Back

-ic (Examples: Historic, poetic, graphic)

Front

Suffix meaning "capable of being"

Back

-able, -ible (Examples: Edible, presentable, credible)

Front

Suffix meaning "one who does"

Back

-er, -or (Examples: Teacher, actor, creator)