Standard Lemma guide

-(s)

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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

suffix

Meaning 1

Added to the end of a singular noun (which normally uses the suffix -s to become plural) to indicate that the noun represents an unknown number which may be one or more than one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • The dog(s) got into the garden.
  • The singer(s) will perform live.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

suffix

Meaning 2

Added to the end of a verb in place of the suffix -s when the subject of the verb may be one or more than one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • The dog(s) get(s) into the garden.
  • The singer(s) perform(s) live.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From -s (suffix forming regular plurals of nouns) and ( ) (encloses optional variants or variant elements).

From -s (suffix forming the third-person singular indicative present tense of verbs) and ( ) (encloses optional variants or variant elements).