100+ Root Word Definitions and Meanings

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.

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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.

1. Amphi (from amphí): Both sides, all around
2. Anthrop (from ánthrōpos): Human or man
3. Aqua or Aque (from aqua): Water or having to do with water
4. Arch (from arkhḗ): Ruler, chief, or leader
5. Arthro (from árthron): Joint
6. Bio (from biōtós): Life
7. Biblio (from bíblos): Book
8. Byss (from bussós): Bottom
9. Chrom (from khrôma): Color
10. Chron (from khrónos): Time
11. Cord or Chord (from khordḗ): Cord
12. Cosm (from kósmos): Universe
13. Crac or Crat (from krátos): Ruler or rule
14. Crypt (from krúptein): Hidden
15. Cylind (from kulíndein): Roll
16. Dyna (from dúnasthai): Power
17. Dem (from dêmos): People
18. Derm (from dérma): Skin
19. Dox (from dóxa): Opinion or belief
20. Eur (from eurús): Wide
21. Exo (from éxō): Outside
22. Gam (from gámos): Marriage
23. Geo (from gaîa): Earth
24. Glyph (from glúphein): Carve
25. Gno (from gnōtós): Know
26. Gram (from grámmatos): Letter
27. Graph (from gráphein): Printing or writing
28. Gym (from gumnós): Naked
29. Gyn (from gunḗ): Woman
30. Hemi (from hḗmisus): partial
31. Hemo, Hem, or Hema (from haîma): Blood
32. Hero (from hḗrōs): Hero
33. Hol (from hólos): Entire or whole
34. Hydr or Hydro (from húdōr): Water
35. Iso (from ísos): Identical, same or equal
36. Klept (from kléptein): Steal
37. Log (from lógos): Word or reason
38. Man or Mant (from manía): Crazy
39. Melan (from mélanos): Black
40. Mere (from meíresthai): A segment or part
41. Meta or Met (from metá): Above or beyond
42. Meter or Metri (from métron): Measure
43. Morph (from morphḗ): Structure or form
44. Narc (from narkân): Numb
45. Neur (from neûron): Nerve
46. Od (from hodós): Path
47. Odonto (from odóntos): Tooth
48. Onym or Nym (from ónuma): Name or word
49. Ortho (from orthós): To correct or straighten
50. Path (from páthos): Feeling
51. Phono or Phon (from phōnḗ): Voice or sound
52. Pne (from pneûma): Lung or breathe
53. Psych (from psukhḗ): Mind, soul or spirit
54. Pod or Ped (from podós): Foot
55. Rhe (from rheîn): Flow
56. Schid or Schiz (from skhízein): Split or division
57. Siphon (from síphōn): Tube
58. Soph (from sophós): Knowledge or wisdom
59. Strat (from stratós): Army
60. The or Theo (from theós): Deity or god
61. Therm (from thermós): Heat
62. Troph (from trophós): Feed or grow
63. Ur (from oureîn): Urine
64. 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?

1. Alter (from alius): Other
2. Ami or amic (from amicus): Love
3. Ambi (from ambi): Both sides
4. Ann or Enni (from annus): Year
5. Aud (from audire): Sound
6. Bell (from bellum): War
7. Brev (from brevis): short
8. Cap (from capere): To take or seize control of
9. Carn (from caro): Meat
10. Ced (from cedere): Yield or go
11. Corp (from corpus): Body
12. Cred (from credere): Believe
13. Cruc (from crux): Cross
14. Culp (from culpa): Guilt
15. Dent (from dentis): Tooth
16. Dic (from dīcere): To speak or say
17. Doc (from docere) Teach
18. Du (from duo): Two
19. Duc or Duct (from ducere): To lead
20. Ego (from egṓ): Self
21. Equ (from aequus): Equal or equivalent
22. Fac (from facere): To make or do
23. Fil (from fīlum): Thread
24. Frater (from frāter): Brother
25. Grad or Gress (from gradi): Step
26. Ject (from jacio ): To throw
27. Jud or Judic (from iudex): To judge
28. Jus or Jur (from ius): Law and justice
29. Lect or Leg (from legere): Say or read
30. Liter (from littera): Letter
31. Loc (from locus): Place
32. Luc (from lūx): Light
33. Magn (from magnus): Big or Large
34. Man or Manu (from manus): Hand
35. Mar (from mare): Sea
36. Mater (from mater): Mother
37. Min (from minor): Smaller
38. Miss or Mit (from mittere): Send
39. Mon (from mónos): Warn
40. Mov, Mot, or Mob (from movere): Move
41. Mort or Mor (from mors): Death
42. Mut (from movere): Change
43. Nomin or Nomen (from nomen): Name
44. Nov (from novus): New
45. Pac (from pax): Peace
46. Pater (from patḗr): Father
47. Pel or Puls (from pēlós): Drive or push
48. Pend or Pens (from pensare): Weigh or hang
49. Plan (from plānus): Flat
50. Port (from portare): Carry
51. Pot (from potere): Power
52. Pug or Pugn (from pugnare): Fight
53. Quer or Quis (from quaerere): To ask or seek
54. Scand or Scend (from scandere): To climb
55. Sci (from scire): Know
56. Scind or sciss (from scindere): Cut
57. Script or Scrib (from scribere): Write
58. Sect or Sec (from secare): Cut
59. Sess or Sed (from sedere): Sit
60. Sent or Sens (from sentire): To be aware of, to feel
61. Sequ or Secut (from sequere): To follow
62. Serv (from servare): To save or serve
63. Simil or Simul (from simulare): The same or similar
64. Sol (from solis): The sun
65. Son (from sonus): Sound
66. Spic or Spec (from specere): To see or look
67. Spir (from spirare): Coil or to breathe
68. Spond (from spondere): Pledge or promise
69. Stat (from statuere): Stand
70. Tact or Tang (from tangere): Touch
71. Tempor (from temporis): Time
72. Tent or Ten (from tenere): Hold
73. Terr (from terra): Earth
74. Vac (from vacare): Empty
75. Vent or Ven (from venire): To come
76. Ver (from verus): Truth
77. Vert (from versus): To turn
78. Vit (from vita): Life
79. 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.