Standard Lemma guide

-ance

suffix · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /-əns/

1

suffix

Meaning 1

Added to an adjective or verb to form a noun indicating a state or condition, such as result or capacity, associated with the verb.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, morpheme, uncountable

Examples

  • ally + -ance → alliance
  • perform + -ance → performance
  • reluct + -ance → reluctance

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

suffix

Meaning 2

Added to a verb to form a noun indicating a process or action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, morpheme, uncountable

Examples

  • appear + -ance → appearance
  • resist + -ance → resistance

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English -aunce, -ance, from Anglo-Norman -aunce and continental Old French -ance, from Latin -ant-, -ent- + -ia, from stem of Latin -āns, -ēns.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: -ança — a state
  • French: -ance — a state
  • Old French: -ance — a state
  • Friulian: -ance — a state
  • Hungarian: -ság — a state
  • Hungarian: -ség — a state
  • Hungarian: -at — a state
  • Hungarian: -et — a state
  • Hungarian: -alom — a state
  • Hungarian: -elem — a state
  • Italian: -anza — a state
  • Middle English: -aunce — a state
  • Middle English: -ing — a state
  • Polish: -ancja — a state
  • Portuguese: -ança — a state
  • Romanian: -anță — a state
  • Russian: -ение (-enije) — a state
  • Spanish: -anza — a state
  • Spanish: -ancia — a state
  • Swedish: -ans — a state
  • Venetan: -ansa — a state