English Dictionary

back-formation

noun

(uncountable, linguistics) The process by which a new word is formed from an older word by interpreting the former as a derivative of the latter, often by removing a morpheme (real or perceived) from the older word, such as the verb burgle, formed by removing -ar (perceived as an agent-noun suffix) from burglar.

Back-formation is a linguistic process where a new word is formed by removing an affix from an existing word.

意味（1）

(uncountable, linguistics) The process by which a new word is formed from an older word by interpreting the former as a derivative of the latter, often by removing a morpheme (real or perceived) from the older word, such as the verb burgle, formed by removing -ar (perceived as an agent-noun suffix) from burglar.

意味（2）

(countable) A word created in this way.

Back-formations, such as tambour (for play the tambourine), are a staple of comedic wordplay.