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• ont-
  ont-

  variant of onto- before a vowel.
• -ont
  -ont

  a combining form meaning “being,” used in the formation of compound words.
• Ont.
  Ont.

  abbreviation

  Ontario.

ont-

¹ American  

1. variant of onto- before a vowel.

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-ont ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “being,” used in the formation of compound words.

   diplont,

   haplont.

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Ont. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. Ontario.

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Ont. British  

abbreviation

1. Ontario

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Usage

What does ont- mean? Ont- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “being.” It is occasionally used in technical terms, especially in philosophy. The form ont- comes from Greek ṓn, meaning “being.” The Latin equivalents are ēns, ent- and essent- “being,” which are the sources of entity and essence. Ont- is a variant of onto-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. When used as a suffix at the end of a word, ont- becomes -ont, as in diplont. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for onto- and -ont.

What does -ont mean? The combining form -ont is used like a suffix to mean “being.” It is very occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology. The form -ont comes from Greek ṓn, meaning “being.” The Latin equivalents are ēns, ent- and essent- “being,” which are the sources of entity and essence. When used as a prefix at the beginning of a word, -ont becomes ont- or onto-, as in ontogeny or ontic. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for ont- and onto-.

Etymology

Origin of -ont

< Greek -ont stem of ṓn “being,” present participle of eînai “to be” ( cf. onto- ( def. ))

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

-ont Ont.

The future participle active is formed by -ont.

From International Language Past, Present and Future: With Specimens of Esperanto and Grammar by Clark, Walter John

They are formed in the Active by means of the endings -ant, -int, and -ont, and in the Passive by means of the endings -at, -it, -ot, with the addition of the adjectival termination -a.

From Esperanto Self-Taught with Phonetic Pronunciation by Mann, William W.

Proponents of involuntary treatments, like Patrick Brown, the mayor of Brampton, Ont., claim “the old approach isn’t working.”

From Salon ● Nov. 17, 2024

Stellantis has said that starting in 2024 it will spend $2.8 billion to retool the Brampton, Ont. factory that builds the Charger and Challenger to assemble vehicles that "support the company's electrification plans."

From Reuters ● Aug. 15, 2022

Marchment also drew a penalty when the native of Uxbridge, Ont., cross-checked Nate Schmidt.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 25, 2022

Canadian-born singer Neil Young returns to his hometown of Omemee, Ont., and later performs a solo concert at Toronto’s Massey Hall.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2020

A constitution was drawn up, similar to the one in use by the N.W.C.T.U., of the United States, and the following officers elected: President, Mrs. L. Youmans, Picton, Ont.;

From Why and How : a hand-book for the use of the W.C.T. unions in Canada by Chisholm, Addie