Definition | Meaning
- The creation of a new word by combining the first part of one word with the last part of another.
Example | Illustration
- the word ‘smog’ is made up of the words ‘smoke’ and ‘fog’
- the brand name Netopia is made up of the words ‘net’ and ‘utopia’
- although comparatively rare in English, this process is a common means of word formation in several language families (e.g. Malayo-Polynesian); it is distinct from recombinant morphemics in that only a portion of each morpheme is used
Etymology | Origin
Compare | See
- portmanteau word
- Recombinant Morphemics