Meaning & use
infix
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
A letter or sound added inside a word, not at the beginning or end, to make a new form or meaning.
Grammar: Countable: you can say an infix, two infixes.
Patterns
- an infix in a word
- add an infix
In some languages, an infix is placed inside the root to show tense.
The word 'abso-blooming-lutely' contains the infix 'blooming'.
Linguists study how infixes change meaning in Austronesian languages.
verbtransitivetechnical
To insert a letter or sound inside a word.
Grammar: Takes an object: infix a sound.
Patterns
- infix something into something
Some speakers infix a vowel to break up consonant clusters.
The process infixes the marker into the verb stem.
Word forms
| plural | infixes |
|---|---|
| third person singular | infixes |
| past tense | infixed |
| past participle | infixed |
| -ing form | infixing |
Common combinations
- infix in a language
- The infix in that language marks the plural.
- add an infix
- You can add an infix to change the word's aspect.
- infix morpheme
- An infix morpheme is inserted within the root.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- infixation noun
- The process of adding an infix.
Commonly confused: infix or prefix? infix or suffix?
infix vs prefix
A prefix comes before the root (e.g., 'un-' in 'unhappy'), while an infix goes inside.
infix vs suffix
A suffix comes after the root (e.g., '-ly' in 'quickly'), not inside.
Practice
In linguistics, what is an infix?
Choose one answer.
An infix is inserted inside a word, unlike a prefix (beginning) or suffix (end).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “infix”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.