Ile

¹ American  

abbreviation

Biochemistry.

1. isoleucine.

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ile- ² American  

1. variant of ileo- before a vowel.

   ileac.

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-ile ³ American  

1. a suffix of adjectives expressing capability, susceptibility, liability, aptitude, etc..

   agile; docile; ductile; fragile; prehensile; volatile.

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-ile British  

suffix

1. indicating capability, liability, or a relationship with something

   agile

   fragile

   juvenile

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Usage

What does ile- mean? Ile- is a combining form used like a prefix representing the word ileum, the third and lowest division of the small intestine. It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology. Ile- ultimately comes from the Latin īlia, meaning “side of the body between hips and groin, guts.”Ile- is a variant of ileo-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use ileo- article.

Etymology

Origin of -ile

From the Latin word -ilis, -īlis

Example Sentences

She said she was now a "happy woman", having found love again in a new relationship as she rebuilt her life on the blustery French Atlantic island of Ile de Re.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

Eventually, the crew makes land on Ile Saint-Hubert near French Guinea, where a genetic dinosaur laboratory was evacuated 17 years earlier.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2025

Cameras are not allowed in French courts but her arrival to the tribunal on Ile de la Cité alone will inevitably spark the same media frenzy that has accompanied her for over a decade.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2025

A retired couple who bought a vacation home on Ile d’Oleron became upset by Maurice’s crowing.

From NewsForKids.net • Mar. 13, 2024

Bill asked in the taxi on our way down to the Ile Saint Louis.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway