English-German translations for back-formation

• Rückbildung die

Definition of back-formation

• 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 from the older word, such as the verb ''burgle'', formed by removing ''-ar' from ''burglar''

Examples

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

Related words

• back-
• back-up
• back-of-the-envelope
• back-to-back
• back-side
• back-heel
• back-translate
• back-translation
• back-to-school