-mer

suffix

Used to form words relating to chemical structure, denoting parts of a molecule, for example, monomer (one part), dimer (two parts), polymer (many parts).

OriginAncient Greek μέρος (méros) ← Proto-Hellenic *(h)méros ← Proto-Indo-European *(s)méros →
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Meanings

suffix

alternative -mere

  1. chemistryUsed to form words relating to chemical structure, denoting parts of a molecule, for example, monomer (one part), dimer (two parts), polymer (many parts).

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*(s)mer-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*(s)méros
  3. Proto-Hellenic*(h)méros
  4. Ancient Greekμέρος (méros)
  5. English-mer

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek μέρος (méros, “part”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Polish -mer
  • -merTranslations
Portuguese -mero
  • -meroTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

-mer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-mer

MLA

“-mer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-mer. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-mer,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-mer.

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