-ity
/əti/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 2.19 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
3
Syllables
3
Unique Chars
Meaning
suffix
Used to form an uncountable noun from an adjective; especially, to form the noun referring to the state, property, or quality of conforming to the adjective's description.
Countable; Uncountable
suffix
Used to form a countable noun from an adjective, referring to someone or something that conforms to the adjective's description.
Countable; Uncountable
suffix
Alternative form of -ety.
Example Sentences
- "absurd + -ity → absurdity (“the quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth, reason, or sound judgment”)"
- "anonym(ous) + -ity → anonymity (“the quality or state of being anonymous”)"
- "modern + -ity → modernity (“the quality of being modern or contemporary”)"
- "precar(ious) + -ity → precarity (“a condition of existence without predictability or security, affecting material or psychological welfare”)"
- "absurd + -ity → [an] absurdity (“that which is absurd; an absurd action; a logical contradiction”)"
- "anonym(ous) + -ity → [an] anonymity (“that which is anonymous”)"
Etymology
From Middle English -ite, -itee, from Old French -ite, -ete, -eteit (“-ity”), from Latin -itātem, from -itās, from Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts (suffix). Cognate with Gothic -𐌹𐌸𐌰 (-iþa, “-th”), Old High German -ida (“-th”), Old English -þo, -þu, -þ (“-th”). More at -th. By surface analysis, -i- (“connecting vowel”) + -ty.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /əti/
- British English: /əti/