Backformation

Backformation is a word-formation process in which a new word is created by removing what is mistakenly interpreted as an affix from a longer word. The resulting shorter form is then treated as if it were the base, and a new derivational word is produced. A classic example is edit, formed from editor by dropping the -or suffix.

The mechanism of backformation often involves reanalysis of a word’s morphology and analogy with similar forms. Speakers encounter a multisyllabic word and, believing a simpler base exists, remove a suffix or rearrange the word to fit familiar patterns. Once a back-formed word gains use, it can become standard in the language. Backformation frequently yields new verbs from nouns or adjectives, but it can affect other parts of speech as well.

Commonly cited examples include editor -> edit; television -> televise; enthusiasm -> enthuse; babysitter -> babysit; burglar -> burglarize. Some potential cases, such as donation -> donate, are disputed among scholars, with debate over whether they reflect genuine back-formation or direct historical derivation. The prevalence and acceptability of back-formation can vary across dialects and historical periods, and not all claimed back-formations survive in the long term.

Backformation is one of several routes by which English continuously expands its lexicon. It illustrates how linguistic intuition and pattern-based reanalysis contribute to word formation, often leveraging familiar morphological shapes to produce new words. See also derivation, clipping, and folk etymology for related processes.