-ance

/-əns/

suffix

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

“ally + -ance → alliance”

OriginMiddle English -aunce ← Anglo-Norman -aunce ← Old French -ance →
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Meanings

suffix-ance (noun-forming suffix, countable and uncountable, plural -ances)

plural -ances · alternative -ence · alternative ⠨⠑

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

    ally + -ance → alliance

    2 more examples

    perform + -ance → performance

    reluct + -ance → reluctance

  2. countableuncountableAdded to a verb to form a noun indicating a process or action.

    appear + -ance → appearance

    1 more example

    resist + -ance → resistance

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
-ence

Origin

  1. Latin-āns
  2. Latin-ant-
  3. Old French-ance
  4. Anglo-Norman-aunce
  5. Middle English-aunce
  6. English-ance

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.

More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman, Old French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan -ança
  • -ançaa state
French -ance
  • -ancea state
Hungarian -ság, -ség
  • -sága state
  • -séga state
  • -ata state
  • -eta state
  • -aloma state
  • -elema state
Italian -anza
  • -anzaa state
Polish -ancja
  • -ancjaa state
Portuguese -ança
  • -ançaa state
Romanian -anță
  • -anțăa state
Russian -ение
  • -ение (-enije)a state
Spanish -anza, -ancia
  • -anzaa state
  • -anciaa state
Swedish -ans
  • -ansa state
Cite this entry
APA

-ance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ance

MLA

“-ance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ance. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-ance,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-ance.

Source: -ance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.