nounadjective

Nounadjective is a linguistic term used to describe a construction in which a noun functions as a modifier of another noun, effectively behaving like an adjective in the syntax and meaning of the phrase. In many discussions this role is described more precisely as a noun adjunct, attributive noun, or noun used attributively. The label nounadjective is not a universal grammatical category, but it captures a recurring pattern across languages, especially in English.

In English, nounadjectives typically appear in attributive position before the head noun. They are usually not inflected for number or other agreement and do not carry articles of their own. Examples include stone wall, coffee cup, car door, and gold watch. Such nouns convey material, origin, function, or a conventional type, helping to specify the head noun without creating a full compound or a separate adjective.

Nounadjectives differ from true adjectives in several ways. True adjectives are a distinct word class with typical inflectional possibilities and can appear in predicative positions after be, while nounadjectives mostly modify nouns in attributive positions and often lack independent agreement. Some nounadjective phrases become idiomatic or lexicalized compounds over time, reducing the sense of a productive grammatical pattern.

Cross-linguistically, attributive noun use is common in Germanic languages and appears in various forms in other language families, though the exact behavior—such as noun order, agreement, and article use—varies. Related concepts include noun adjuncts, attributive nouns, and compound nouns.