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-oid

  1. a suffix meaning “resembling,” “like,” used in the formation of adjectives and nouns (and often implying an incomplete or imperfect resemblance to what is indicated by the preceding element):

    alkaloid; anthropoid; cardioid; cuboid; lithoid; ovoid; planetoid.



-oid

suffix forming adjectives

  1. indicating likeness, resemblance, or similarity

    anthropoid

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

–oid

  1. A suffix meaning “like” or “resembling,” as in ellipsoid, a geometric solid that resembles an ellipse.
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Word History and Origins

Origin of -oid1

< Greek -oeidēs, equivalent to -o- -o- + -eidēs having the form of, derivative of eîdos form
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Word History and Origins

Origin of -oid1

from Greek -oeidēs resembling, form of, from eidos form

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Words That Use -oid

What does -oid mean?

The suffixoid means “resembling” or “like.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

The suffix –oid comes from Greek –oeidēs, from eîdos meaning “form.”

What are variants of –oid?

The plural form of –oid used in the names of zoological classes is oidea, as in cynoidea. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on –oidea.

Examples of -oid

An example of a word you may have encountered that features oid is
factoid, “an insignificant or trivial fact.” It also refers to something presented as fact but is not necessarily true.

The fact part of the word here literally means “fact,” as in “something that actually exists.” The suffix –oid means “resembling,” as we have seen. Factoid literally means “resembling a fact.”

What are some words that use the suffix –oid?

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

Break it down!

The combining form oste means “bone.” With this in mind, what does osteoid literally mean?

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