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definitions

back formation

noun Linguistics.

the analogical creation of one word from another word that appears to be a derived or inflected form of the first by dropping the apparent affix or by modification.
a word so formed, as typewrite from typewriter.

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Nearby words

  1. back emission,
  2. back end,
  3. back float,
  4. back focus,
  5. back foot,
  6. back forty,
  7. back four,
  8. back gear,
  9. back green,
  10. back hack

Origin of back formation

First recorded in 1885–90
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for back-formation

back formation

noun

the invention of a new word on the assumption that a familiar word is derived from it. The verbs edit and burgle were so created from editor and burglar
a word formed by this process
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
Word Origin and History for back-formation

back-formation

n.

also back formation, by 1887, from back (adv.) + formation.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper