ALL meanings of back formation
back for·ma·tion
B b - noun back formation 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 3
- noun back formation a word formed by this process 3
- noun back formation a word actually formed from, but seeming to be the base of, another word (Ex.: burgle from burglar) 3
- noun back formation the process of forming such a word 3
- noun back formation 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. 1
- noun back formation a word so formed, as typewrite from typewriter. 1
- noun back formation (linguistics) Alternative spelling of backformation. 0