-morphic

The combining form –morphic is used like a suffix meaning “having the shape, form, or structure.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

The form –morphic comes from a combination of two forms. The first is –morph, from Greek –morphos, meaning “shape.” The second is the suffix –ic, from Greek –ikos or Latin –icus, both meaning “having some characteristics of.”

What are variants of –morphic?

In some terms, the form –morphic becomes –morphous, as in polymorphous. Additional related combining forms include morph–, morpho–, and –morphism. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles on all four combining forms.

An example of a scientific term you may have encountered that features –morphic is metamorphic, “pertaining to or characterized by change of form, or metamorphosis.”

The combining form meta–, from Greek, has a variety of meanings, including “beyond.” The form –morphic means “having the shape, form, or structure.” Metamorphic therefore roughly means “beyond a shape, form, or structure.”

What are some words that use the combining form –morphic?

• anisomorphic
• automorphic
• dimorphic
• idiomorphic (using the equivalent form of –morphic in Greek)
• xenomorphic
• zoomorphic

What are some other forms that –morphic may be commonly confused with?

• -mony
• -most
• -mycin

The combining form zoo– means “animal.” With this in mind, what does zoomorphic mean?