-ier

suffix

spelling of the suffix sequence -y followed by -er, or of any word ending in -(e)y suffixed with -er.

“clothier, perfumier”

OriginMiddle English -ier ← French -ier →
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Meanings

-ier1

suffix
  1. spelling of the suffix sequence -y followed by -er, or of any word ending in -(e)y suffixed with -er.

    dicey → dicier; clayey → clayier; gluey → gluier; happy → happier; scary → scarier; tomatoey → tomatoier

-ier2

suffix
  1. Forming nouns denoting occupations, particularly with words from French.

    clothier, perfumier

Origin

-ier · suffix

From -y + -er.

Full word history & related roots →

-ier · suffix

  1. French-ier
  2. Middle English-ier
  3. English-ier

From Middle English -ier, -iere from verbs ending in -ien + -ere, later extended to form other nouns (e.g. Middle English clothyer, glasiere, lovier, tiliere). Later reinforced by Middle French and modern French -ier, largely in words more recently borrowed from or influenced by French (e.g. cashier, financier, etc.). Doublet of -ar, -ary, -eer, and -yer.

More words from Middle English, French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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