Understanding Compound Words (Definition, List, For Kids, Examples)

Compound words can make the English language fun. But it can also make the English language difficult to comprehend. When a single word means one thing. And then two different words mean something else. Then the combined word means… something new? Unfortunately, that’s correct. And can get confusing when learning English or teaching English.

Learn what compound words are in this grammar worksheet…

What are compound words?

The meaning of a compound word is practically stated in the name itself. Two words turning into one and getting used to produce a meaning that is entirely new form— is a compound word.

A compound word combines two words to create an entirely different meaning. Words that result from compounding can take three forms: open compound words, closed compound words and hyphenated compound words.

Confusion often arises as there are doubts about writing words as a single word, two individual words, or two words with a hyphen.

Form	Definition
Compound words	In linguistics, a compound is a lexeme that consists of more than one stem. Compounding, composition or nominal composition is the process of word formation that creates compound lexemes. Compounding occurs when two or more words or signs are joined to make a longer word or sign. (Wikipedia)

What are open compound words?

Open compound words are written as two individual words. An excellent example of an open compound word would be ice cream. “Ice” and “cream” mean two entirely different things on their own, but when combine, means something else.

Open compound words are produced when a noun is used with an adjective modifies it. This blend creates a new noun.

It’s incorrect to think you can place a noun with any modifying adjective to form a compound word.

This makes it challenging for most of us to form or identify compound words in English.

Here are some commonly used compound words in English:

full moon
dinner table
living room
real estate
coffee mug

It should be noted that adverbs that end with “ly” can also make combinations with other words to form compound words.

Here again, these are written as two individual words:

newly formed
largely irrelevant
early on
tongue twister

What are closed compound words?

Once you have grasped what open compound words are, you won’t find it hard to understand the concept of closed compound words.

These can confuse people as they often sound like two words that are separate from each other (in speech).

These are two individual words written as a single complete word.

There is no gap (or space) between a closed compound word, so the word “closed” gets used to define it and name it.

These are words that, previously, were not used as single words. Over time, these have become acceptable in the English language.

Here are some examples of closed compound words:

bookstore
notebook
waistcoat
fireman
keyboard
flowerpot

English, as a written and spoken language, is continuously evolving.

How can compound words get created? When words are used more often than they were previously, they are often blended into a single word.

For instance, when the internet initially entered our lives, we spoke about everyone being “on-line.”

Nowadays, using the internet is as common as having a glass of water and is an everyday experience.

As a result, the word “online” is now accepted as a word.

What are hyphenated compound words?

An essential grammar rule to remember is that in the majority of cases, compound adjectives are hyphenated when they occur before the nouns they modify.

They are not hyphenated when they occur after the nouns they modify.

View the examples below:

An up-to-date outfit
A long-term plan
A close-up shot

Now, view these incorrect examples:

This outfit does not seem up to date.
This is not a good plan for the long term.
The shot looks blurred when seen close up.

Hyphens are used with compound words. And when writing, you can get a few reminders of when to use them.

Some writers refuse to use them as they state that the writing becomes “messier” with a hyphen between two words. This is personal preference and should only get used in informal writing tones.

Remember, hyphens work with compound words followed by a noun, like “sun-bleached hair.”

They don’t do well with adjectives modified by their adverbs.

For instance, you can write these things without hyphens:

lightly salted fish
poorly crafted work
distantly related uncles

Hyphens work with compound words that get accompanied by adjectives and end in participles:

a weird-looking snake
pan-fried noodles
jaw-dropping dance moves

Refer to the table for the three compound word forms:

Types of compound words	Example
Open compounds	Ice cream
Closed compounds	Doorknob
Hyphenated compounds	Long-term

Compound words (open, closed, and hyphenated) can make the English language challenging to fully comprehend.

Remember, open form compound words are two words which are written independently of one another, separated by space. Compounds verbs are words which describe an action. Unlike a regular verb, a compound verb is made up of two words.

Individual word	Individual word	Compound word = new meaning
Snow	Man	Snowman
Star	Fish	Starfish
Cup	Cake	Cupcake
Rain	Coat	Raincoat
Lip	Stick	Lipstick

Examples of compound words

It’s best to see how compound words work in regular sentences. They’ll be easy to denote as they take two words and combine them into a single word—resulting in an entirely new meaning.

Examples of compound words in sentences

Here are examples of how compound words are used in English in sentences you may be familiar with:

The baseball hit the pitch with a loud thud.
Her lifestyle includes going on at least two cruises in a year.
The post office shut as a result of the discourse.
The backyard, filled with auburn leaves in the autumn, looked resplendent.
Mary’s shoelace became undone after her run.
The double-decker sped at breakneck speed down the busy street.
His self-esteem hit him as the professor scolded him in front of his classmates.
They worked in a self-paced manner while building the wall.
Disappointed with his poor performance, the runner-up in the competition cried a lot.
The ruin of the battleship lay bereft in the ocean.

Compound words list

Here is a list of commonly used compound words.

You may find that you recognize some you use in everyday speech and writing:

afterthought
inside
mailbox
basketball
skateboard
moonlight
sunshine
sweet tooth
half-sister
grand jury
cave in
railroad
airmail
backfire
background
blackmail
crossover
egghead
highway
slumlord
timepiece
upturn
watermark
warlord
upbeat
living room
snow cone
apple pie
table tennis
check-in
seventy-two
two-fold
high school
half brother
one-half
over the counter
on-campus (as in on-campus accommodation)
family-run
full-time employee

Compound words for kindergarten children

When we teach kids a new concept, we tend to bring ourselves to a level they will understand. Consequently, concerning compound words, several exercises are used in to help children comprehend them.

It’s best to start with common words that children can see regularly. The following compound word list will display this:

anymore
anything
bathrobe
football
bathtub
butterfly
dishwasher
carpet
doorbell
earache
everybody
footprint
grandmother
homework
outside
meatball
ice cream
spaceship
teapot
racing car
junior school
dinner table
far-off
close-up
pancake
cardboard
jogging pants
school bus
rainbow
toothbrush
airplane
strawberry
starfish
ponytail
outer space
hot dog
mailbox
hamburger
spaceship

Kids can learn things much faster than adults. Children tend to love compound words as the comprehension of the single word and the several ways it can get used rather than learning entirely new parts of speech.

More compound words for kids.

Full list of compound words

Here is a full list of compound words.

A-E

Aboveboard
Afterbirth
Afterburner
Afterglow
Afterimage
Afterlife
Aftermath
Afternoon
Airbrush
Aircraft
Airfield
Airlift
Airline
Airliner
Airmail
Airman
Airmen
Airplane
Airport
Airship
Airtime
Allover
Allspice
Alongside
Also
Another
Anybody
Anyhow
Anymore
Anyone
Anyplace
Anything
Anytime
Anyway
Anywhere
Armchair
Armpit
Around
Arrowhead
Ashtray
Authorship
Babysit
Babysitter
Backache
Backbite
Backbone
Backbreaker
Backdrop
Backfield
Backfire
Background
Backhand
Backlash
Backlog
Backpack
Backside
Backslap
Backslide
Backspace
Backspin
Backstage
Backstop
Backstretch
Backstroke
Backtrack
Backward
Ballpark
Ballroom
Bankbook
Bankroll
Baseball
Basketball
Beachcomb
Became
Because
Become
Bedbug
Bedclothes
Bedrock
Bedroll
Bedroom
Bellbottom
Bellboy
Bellhop
Below
Birthday
Blackball
Blackberries
Blackbird
Blackboard
Blackjack
Blacklist
Blackmail
Blackout
Blacksmith
Blacktop
Bluebell
Blueberry
Bluebird
Bluefish
Bluegrass
Blueprint
Boardwalk
Bodyguard
Bodywork
Boldface
Bookbinder
Bookcase
Bookend
Bookkeeper
Booklet
Bookmark
Bookmobile
Bookseller
Bookshelf
Bookstore
Bookworm
Bootstrap
Bowtie
Brainchild
Brainstorm
Brainwash
Bugspray
Bushfire
Buttercup
Butterfat
Butterfingers
Butterflies
Buttermilk
Butternut
Butterscotch
Bypass
Cabdriver
Cancan
Candid
Candlelight
Candlestick
Cannot
Cardboard
Cardsharp
Cardstock
Carefree
Caretaker
Careworn
Carfare
Cargo
Carhop
Carload
Carpetbagger
Carpool
Carport
Carrack
Carryall
Carsick
Cartwheel
Carwash
Cattail
Catwalk
Caveman
Centercut
Cheeseburger
Cheesecake
Classmate
Clockwise
Coffeemaker
Comeback
Comedown
Commonplace
Commonwealth
Cornball
Cornmeal
Cornstalk
Cornwall
Cottonmouth
Cottontail
Cottonwood
Countdown
Counterattack
Counterbalance
Counterclockwise
Counterintelligence
Countermeasure
Counteroffensive
Counterpane
Counterpart
Counterpoint
Counterpoise
Courthouse
Courtroom
Courtyard
Crewcut
Crossbow
Crossbreed
Crosscut
Crossover
Crossroad
Crosstown
Crosswalk
Crossword
Cupcake
Dairymaid
Daisywheel
Daybed
Daybook
Daybreak
Daydream
Daylight
Daytime
Deadend
Deadline
Dishcloth
Dishpan
Dishwasher
Dishwater
Diskdrive
Dogwood
Doorstop
Downbeat
Downunder
Drawbridge
Driveway
Duckbill
Duckpin
Earache
Eardrop
Eardrum
Earring
Earthbound
Earthquake
Earthward
Earthworm
Egghead
Eggshell
Elsewhere
Everyone
Everything
Eyeball
Eyeballs
Eyebrow
Eyecatching
Eye-catching
Eyeglasses
Eyelash
Eyelid
Eyesight
Eyewitness

F-N

Fatherland
Fatherless
Firearm
Fireball
Fireboat
Firebomb
Firebox
Firebreak
Firecracker
Firefighter
Fireflies
Firehouse
Fireman
Fireproof
Firewater
Fireworks
Fishbowl
Fisherman
Fisheye
Fishhook
Fishlike
Fishmonger
Fishnet
Fishpond
Fishtail
Flashlight
Football
Foothill
Foothold
Footlights
Footlocker
Footnote
Footpath
Footprints
Footrest
Forbearer
Forbid
Forearm
Forebear
Forecast
Forecastle
Foreclose
Foreclosure
Foredoom
Forefather
Forefinger
Forefront
Forehand
Forehead
Foreleg
Foreman
Foremost
Forepaws
Forerunner
Foresee
Foresight
Forestall
Forestland
Forever
Forget
Forgive
Forklift
Format
Fortnight
Freelance
Friendship
Fruitcup
Gearshift
Glassmaking
Goodbye
Goodnight
Grandaunt
Grandchild
Grandchildren
Granddaughter
Grandfather
Grandmaster
Grandmother
Grandnephew
Grandnieces
Grandparent
Grandson
Grandstand
Granduncle
Grasshopper
Graveyard
Gumball
Haircut
Hamburger
Hammerhead
Hamstring
Handball
Handbook
Handcuff
Handgun
Handmade
Handout
Headache
Headdress
Headhunter
Headlight
Headline
Headquarters
Hedgehop
Heirloom
Hellcat
Hellhole
Helpmate
Helpmeet
Hemstitch
Henceforth
Henchman
Henpeck
Hereabout
Hereafter
Hereby
Herein
Hereof
Hereupon
Herself
Highball
Highchair
Highland
Highlight
Highway
Himself
Homemade
Homesick
Hometown
Honeybee
Honeycomb
Honeydew
Honeymoon
Honeysuckle
Hookup
Hookworm
Horseback
Horsefly
Horsehair
Horseplay
Horsepower
Horseradish
Horseshoe
Houseboat
Housecoat
Household
Housekeeper
Housetop
Housewife
Housework
However
Ideal
Inchworm
Income
Indoors
Inflow
Infold
Infuse
Infusion
Inhale
Inkblot
Inkwell
Inland
Inmate
Inpatient
Inroad
Inset
Inside
Intake
Ironwork
Itself
Jackpot
Jackson
Jailbait
Jailbird
Jawbone
Jawbreaker
Jaywalk
Jellybean
Jellyfish
Jerkwater
Jerrybuild
Jetliner
Jetport
Jigsaw
Jimsonweed
Jitterbug
Jobholder
Johnnycake
Jumpshot
Keepsake
Keyboard
Keyhole
Keynote
Keypad
Keypunch
Keystone
Keystroke
Keyway
Keyword
Landmark
Landslide
Landward
Lapland
Lapwing
Larkspur
Laughingstock
Lawgiver
Lawmaker
Lawsuit
Layman
Layoff
Layout
Layover
Leapfrog
Lifeblood
Lifeboat
Lifeguard
Lifelike
Lifeline
Lifelong
Lifesaver
Lifetime
Lifework
Lighthouse
Limelight
Limestone
Lipstick
Longhand
Longhorn
Longhouse
Lukewarm
Mailbox
Mainland
Mainline
Mainspring
Mainstream
Makeup
Matchbox
Meadowland
Meantime
Meanwhile
Moonbeam
Moonlight
Moonlit
Moonscape
Moonshine
Moonstone
Moonstruck
Moonwalk
Moreover
Mothball
Motherhood
Motorcycle
Nearby
Necktie
Nevermore
Newborn
Newfound
Newsboy
Newsbreak
Newscast
Newscaster
Newsdealer
Newsletter
Newsman
Newsmen
Newspaper
Newsperson
Newsprint
Newsreel
Newsroom
Newsstand
Newsworthy
Nightfall
Nobody
Noisemaker
Northeast
Northwest
Notebook
Notepad
Noteworthy
Nowhere
Nursemaid
Nutcracker

O-T

Oneself
Onetime
Overabundance
Overboard
Overcoat
Overflow
Overland
Overpass
Overshoes
Pacemaker
Pancake
Parkway
Passbook
Passkey
Passover
Passport
Password
Pasteboard
Patchwork
Pathfinder
Pathway
Pawnbroker
Pawnshop
Paycheck
Payload
Paymaster
Payoff
Payroll
Peppermint
Pickup
Pineapple
Pinhole
Pinpoint
Pinstripe
Pinup
Pinwheel
Playback
Playboy
Playground
Playhouse
Playmate
Playthings
Ponytail
Popcorn
Postcard
Pothole
Proofread
Racquetball
Railroad
Railway
Rainbow
Raincheck
Raincoat
Raindrop
Rainfall
Rainmaker
Rainstorm
Rainwater
Ratline
Ratsbane
Rattlesnake
Rattletrap
Rawboned
Rawhide
Readywitted
Rearmost
Rearrange
Rearward
Redcap
Redcoat
Reddish
Redhead
Repairman
Riverbank
Riverbanks
Rubberband
Sailboat
Salesclerk
Sandbox
Sandlot
Sandstone
Sandwich
Saucepan
Scapegoat
Scarecrow
Schoolbook
Schoolboy
Schoolbus
Schoolhouse
Schoolmate
Schoolroom
Schoolwork
Seashore
Setback
Setoff
Shadyside
Sharecropper
Sharpshooter
Sheepskin
Shipbottom
Shipbuilder
Shipload
Shipwreck
Shipyard
Shoelace
Shoemaker
Shopkeeper
Shortbread
Shortcake
Shotgun
Showboat
Showoff
Showplace
Showroom
Sideburns
Sidecar
Sidekick
Sideshow
Sidewalk
Silversmith
Sisterhood
Sixfold
Skateboard
Skintight
Skylark
Skylight
Skyscraper
Slapstick
Slowdown
Slumlord
Snakeskin
Snowball
Snowbank
Snowbird
Snowdrift
Snowshoe
Snowshovel
Snowstorm
Soapstone
Softball
Software
Somebody
Someday
Somehow
Someone
Someplace
Something
Sometime
Sometimes
Someway
Somewhat
Somewhere
Soundproof
Southeast
Southwest
Soybean
Spacesuit
Spacewalk
Spearmint
Speedboat
Spillway
Spokesperson
Springtime
Stagehand
Standby
Standoff
Standout
Standpipe
Standpoint
Standstill
Starfish
Steamboat
Steamship
Stepson
Stickup
Stockroom
Stonewall
Stoplight
Stopwatch
Storerooms
Strawberry
Streetcar
Stronghold
Subway
Sunbaked
Sunbathe
Sunday
Sundial
Sundown
Sunfish
Sunflower
Sunglasses
Sunlit
Sunray
Sunrise
Sunroof
Sunshine
Suntan
Sunup
Supercargo
Supercharge
Supercool
Superego
Superfine
Supergiant
Superhero
Superhighways
Superhuman
Superimpose
Superman
Supermarket
Supermen
Supernatural
Superpower
Superscript
Supersensitive
Supersonic
Superstar
Superstrong
Superstructure
Supertanker
Superweapon
Superwoman
Sweetheart
Sweetmeat
Tablecloth
Tablespoon
Tabletop
Tableware
Tadpole
Tagalong
Tailbone
Tailcoat
Tailgate
Taillight
Taillike
Tailpiece
Tailspin
Takeoff
Takeout
Takeover
Talebearer
Taleteller
Tapeworm
Taproom
Taproot
Target
Taskmaster
Tattletale
Taxicab
Taxpayer
Teacup
Teammate
Teamwork
Teapot
Teardrop
Teaspoon
Teenager
Telltale
Tenderfoot
Tenderhearted
Tenderloin
Tenfold
Textbook
Themselves
Therefore
Throwaway
Throwback
Thunderbird
Thunderbolt
Thundershower
Thunderstorm
Timekeeper
Timepieces
Timesaving
Timeshare
Timetable
Today
Together
Toolbox
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Toothpick
Touchdown
Township
Turnabout
Turnaround
Turnbuckle
Turncoat
Turndown
Turnkey
Turnoff
Turnover
Turntable
Typewriter

T-Z

Underachieve
Underact
Underage
Underarm
Underbelly
Underbid
Undercharge
Underclothes
Undercover
Undercurrent
Undercut
Underdevelop
Underdog
Underesimate
Underestimate
Underexpose
Underfeed
Underfinance
Underfoot
Underfur
Undergarment
Undergird
Undergo
Undergraduate
Underground
Undergrowth
Underhand
Underhanded
Underlayer
Underlie
Upbeat
Upbringing
Upcoming
Update
Updraft
Upend
Upgrade
Upheaval
Upheld
Uphill
Uphold
Upkeep
Upland
Uplift
Uplink
Upload
Upmarket
Upon
Uppercase
Upperclassman
Uppercut
Uppermost
Upright
Uprising
Upriver
Uproar
Uproot
Upset
Upshot
Upside
Upstage
Upstairs
Upstanding
Upstart
Upstate
Upstream
Upsurge
Upswing
Uptake
Upthrust
Uptight
Uptime
Uptown
Upturn
Upward
Upwind
Waistband
Waistcoat
Waistline
Walkout
Walkways
Wallboard
Walleyed
Wallflower
Wallpaper
Wanderlust
Wardroom
Warehouse
Warfare
Warhead
Warlike
Warlord
Warmblooded
Warmhearted
Warmonger
Warpath
Warplanes
Warship
Wartime
Washboard
Washbowl
Washcloth
Washout
Washroom
Washstand
Washtub
Wastebasket
Wasteland
Wastepaper
Wastewater
Watchband
Watchcase
Watchdog
Watchmaker
Watchman
Watchtower
Watchword
Watercolor
Watercooler
Watercraft
Waterfall
Waterfowl
Waterfront
Waterline
Waterlog
Watermark
Watermelon
Waterpower
Waterproof
Waterscape
Watershead
Waterside
Waterspout
Watertight
Waterway
Waterwheel
Waterworks
Wavelength
Wavelike
Waxwork
Waybill
Wayfarer
Waylaid
Wayside
Wayward
Weathercock
Weatherman
Weatherproof
Weekday
Weekend
Weeknight
Whatever
Whatsoever
Wheelbarrow
Wheelbase
Wheelchair
Wheelhouse
Whitecap
Whitefish
Whitewall
Whitewash
Widespread
Wipeout
Without
Woodshop
Workplace
Worldwide
Wrongdoing

FAQs

Does a compound noun get a hyphen?

No, unlike a hyphenated compound word, a compound noun does not get a hyphen. And joins the two separate words to create a new words to determine its own meaning. When the words combine, it can be something brand new that two separate words don’t mean.

What are hyphenated compound words?

Mother-in-law, sister-in-law.

How many types of compound words are there?

Three types: closed compound words, open compound words and hyphenated compound words.

References:

Inside this article

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About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.