Words with the suffix -ment
-ment means “result, action, or state of”, from Latin -mentum via Old French -ment. It makes a word into a noun.
15 examples of the suffix -ment
- movementmove + -mentact of moving
- paymentpay + -mentact of paying
- treatmenttreat + -mentact of treating
- agreementagree + -mentstate of agreeing
- argumentargue + -mentresult of arguing
- statementstate + -mentresult of stating something
- judgmentjudge + -mentresult of judging
- punishmentpunish + -mentresult of being punished
- achievementachieve + -mentresult of achieving something
- requirementrequire + -mentsomething required
- disappointmentdisappoint + -mentstate of being disappointed
- establishmentestablish + -mentresult of establishing something
- acknowledgmentacknowledge + -mentact of acknowledging
- bewildermentbewilder + -mentstate of being bewildered
- astonishmentastonish + -mentstate of being astonished
How -ment works
The suffix '-ment' attaches to verbs to form nouns denoting the action, result, or state of that verb, sometimes dropping a final silent 'e' (as in 'argue' → 'argument' or 'judge' → 'judgment'). It does not change the consonant of the base word and carries no spelling assimilation like the prefix 'in-' does.
Watch out: Words like 'moment,' 'comment,' 'cement,' and 'segment' look as though they end in '-ment' but are not formed from English verb bases with this suffix — they are borrowings where '-ment' is simply part of the root.
To see suffixes combine with other parts, try the word dissector and root builder, or test yourself in the vocabulary quiz.
Other common suffixes
- -able · capable of
- -ible · capable of
- -tion · act
- -ness · state
- -ly · in a specified manner
- -er · one who performs an action
- -ful · full of
- -less · without
- -ous · having the quality of
- -ity · state
- -ism · doctrine
- -ist · one who practices or believes in
- -ize · to make or cause to become
- -al · of
- -ance · action
- -ence · action
- -ive · tending to
- -ship · state
Questions people ask
What does the suffix -ment mean?
-ment means “result, action, or state of”. It comes from Latin -mentum via Old French -ment. The suffix '-ment' attaches to verbs to form nouns denoting the action, result, or state of that verb, sometimes dropping a final silent 'e' (as in 'argue' → 'argument' or 'judge' → 'judgment'). It does not change the consonant of the base word and carries no spelling assimilation like the prefix 'in-' does.
What are some examples of words with the suffix -ment?
movement, payment, treatment, agreement, argument, statement, judgment, punishment. The full list of 15 examples, with what each one literally means, is above.
Which words look like they have the suffix -ment but don’t?
Words like 'moment,' 'comment,' 'cement,' and 'segment' look as though they end in '-ment' but are not formed from English verb bases with this suffix — they are borrowings where '-ment' is simply part of the root.
What is a suffix?
A suffix is a word part added to the end of a word. It often changes the part of speech: -ness turns the adjective kind into the noun kindness, and -ly turns quick into the adverb quickly.