Jump To:

• 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.

---

-ont ² American  

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

   diplont,

   haplont.

---

Ont. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. Ontario.

---

Ont. British  

abbreviation

1. Ontario

---

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.

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 William W. Mann

The future participle active is formed by -ont.

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

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

Drew Doughty and Carter are from London, Ont.; games in Toronto allow them to visit with family and friends.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2016

In 1862, Simon Fraser, who explored the B.C. river that bears his name, died in St. Andrews West, Ont., at 85.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 17, 2015

The captured and the captors made a hard march from Fort Erie to Newark—or, as we know it now, Niagara, Ont., on Lake Ontario.

From Old Trails on the Niagara Frontier by Frank H. Severance

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---