Back-formation Definition
bakfôrmāzhən
noun
A new word created by removing an affix from an already existing word, as vacuum clean from vacuum cleaner, or by removing what is mistakenly thought to be an affix, as pea from the earlier English plural pease.
American Heritage
A word actually formed from, but seeming to be the base of, another word (Ex.: burgle from burglar)
Webster's New World
The process of forming words in this way.
American Heritage
The process of forming such a word.
Webster's New World
Alternative spelling of back-formation.
Wiktionary
Other Word Forms of Back-formation
Noun
Singular:
back-formation
Plural:
back-formations
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