100+ Root Word Definitions and Meanings

Learning root words can be helpful in improving your vocabulary. When you know root words, you can recognize the basis of any word and use that knowledge to help you define a word you may not otherwise know. Keep reading to learn more about root words and to see a list of over 100 root word definitions.

Root Word Basics

So, what is a root word? A root word is the most basic part of a word, known as a morpheme. Root words that can stand alone as words (such as hero or ego) are known as free morphemes. If a root word must use a prefix and/or suffix to be an English word, it's known as a bound morpheme.

For example, take the word biology:

The root bio is Greek for "life."
The suffix -logy is Greek for "the study of."

Therefore, biology means "the study of life." If you add yet another suffix, -ist, the word becomes biologist - a person who studies life. As you make your way through this list of root words, you might consider creating your own flashcard set to memorize root word definitions. Just use this editable blank flashcard template.

View & Download PDF

Root Definitions

It's important to know basic root word meanings. Understanding these definitions is the first step in building a stronger and more expansive vocabulary. Here is a sampling of root words divided by Greek and Latin origins.

Greek Roots

Many words in English are derived from Greek roots, like "bibliography," "chronological" and "orthodontist." Take a look at this list of Greek roots and try to think of English words based on each of them.

Amphi (from amphí): Both sides, all around
Anthrop (from ánthrōpos): Human or man
Aqua or Aque (from aqua): Water or having to do with water
Arch (from arkhḗ): Ruler, chief, or leader
Arthro (from árthron): Joint
Bio (from biōtós): Life
Biblio (from bíblos): Book
Byss (from bussós): Bottom
Chrom (from khrôma): Color
Chron (from khrónos): Time
Cord or Chord (from khordḗ): Cord
Cosm (from kósmos): Universe
Crac or Crat (from krátos): Ruler or rule
Crypt (from krúptein): Hidden
Cylind (from kulíndein): Roll
Dyna (from dúnasthai): Power
Dem (from dêmos): People
Derm (from dérma): Skin
Dox (from dóxa): Opinion or belief
Eur (from eurús): Wide
Exo (from éxō): Outside
Gam (from gámos): Marriage
Geo (from gaîa): Earth
Glyph (from glúphein): Carve
Gno (from gnōtós): Know
Gram (from grámmatos): Letter
Graph (from gráphein): Printing or writing
Gym (from gumnós): Naked
Gyn (from gunḗ): Woman
Hemi (from hḗmisus): partial
Hemo, Hem, or Hema (from haîma): Blood
Hero (from hḗrōs): Hero
Hol (from hólos): Entire or whole
Hydr or Hydro (from húdōr): Water
Iso (from ísos): Identical, same or equal
Klept (from kléptein): Steal
Log (from lógos): Word or reason
Man or Mant (from manía): Crazy
Melan (from mélanos): Black
Mere (from meíresthai): A segment or part
Meta or Met (from metá): Above or beyond
Meter or Metri (from métron): Measure
Morph (from morphḗ): Structure or form
Narc (from narkân): Numb
Neur (from neûron): Nerve
Od (from hodós): Path
Odonto (from odóntos): Tooth
Onym or Nym (from ónuma): Name or word
Ortho (from orthós): To correct or straighten
Path (from páthos): Feeling
Phono or Phon (from phōnḗ): Voice or sound
Pne (from pneûma): Lung or breathe
Psych (from psukhḗ): Mind, soul or spirit
Pod or Ped (from podós): Foot
Rhe (from rheîn): Flow
Schid or Schiz (from skhízein): Split or division
Siphon (from síphōn): Tube
Soph (from sophós): Knowledge or wisdom
Strat (from stratós): Army
The or Theo (from theós): Deity or god
Therm (from thermós): Heat
Troph (from trophós): Feed or grow
Ur (from oureîn): Urine
Zo (from zôion): Animal

Latin Roots

Just as many English words are derived from Greek, many other words are based on Latin roots, like "ambidextrous," "carnivore" and "lecture." What English words can you think of that are based on each of these Latin root words?

Alter (from alius): Other
Ami or amic (from amicus): Love
Ambi (from ambi): Both sides
Ann or Enni (from annus): Year
Aud (from audire): Sound
Bell (from bellum): War
Brev (from brevis): short
Cap (from capere): To take or seize control of
Carn (from caro): Meat
Ced (from cedere): Yield or go
Corp (from corpus): Body
Cred (from credere): Believe
Cruc (from crux): Cross
Culp (from culpa): Guilt
Dent (from dentis): Tooth
Dic (from dīcere): To speak or say
Doc (from docere) Teach
Du (from duo): Two
Duc or Duct (from ducere): To lead
Ego (from egṓ): Self
Equ (from aequus): Equal or equivalent
Fac (from facere): To make or do
Fil (from fīlum): Thread
Frater (from frāter): Brother
Grad or Gress (from gradi): Step
Ject (from jacio ): To throw
Jud or Judic (from iudex): To judge
Jus or Jur (from ius): Law and justice
Lect or Leg (from legere): Say or read
Liter (from littera): Letter
Loc (from locus): Place
Luc (from lūx): Light
Magn (from magnus): Big or Large
Man or Manu (from manus): Hand
Mar (from mare): Sea
Mater (from mater): Mother
Min (from minor): Smaller
Miss or Mit (from mittere): Send
Mon (from mónos): Warn
Mov, Mot, or Mob (from movere): Move
Mort or Mor (from mors): Death
Mut (from movere): Change
Nomin or Nomen (from nomen): Name
Nov (from novus): New
Pac (from pax): Peace
Pater (from patḗr): Father
Pel or Puls (from pēlós): Drive or push
Pend or Pens (from pensare): Weigh or hang
Plan (from plānus): Flat
Port (from portare): Carry
Pot (from potere): Power
Pug or Pugn (from pugnare): Fight
Quer or Quis (from quaerere): To ask or seek
Scand or Scend (from scandere): To climb
Sci (from scire): Know
Scind or sciss (from scindere): Cut
Script or Scrib (from scribere): Write
Sect or Sec (from secare): Cut
Sess or Sed (from sedere): Sit
Sent or Sens (from sentire): To be aware of, to feel
Sequ or Secut (from sequere): To follow
Serv (from servare): To save or serve
Simil or Simul (from simulare): The same or similar
Sol (from solis): The sun
Son (from sonus): Sound
Spic or Spec (from specere): To see or look
Spir (from spirare): Coil or to breathe
Spond (from spondere): Pledge or promise
Stat (from statuere): Stand
Tact or Tang (from tangere): Touch
Tempor (from temporis): Time
Tent or Ten (from tenere): Hold
Terr (from terra): Earth
Vac (from vacare): Empty
Vent or Ven (from venire): To come
Ver (from verus): Truth
Vert (from versus): To turn
Vit (from vita): Life
Voc (from vocare): To call

More Resources on Root Words

The root study doesn't have to stop here. If you'd like to see these words in action, check out an article that lists examples of root words. There, you'll learn about root stems and how words can be formed by adding prefixes, suffixes or both to roots.

Jennifer Gunner

M.Ed. Education