-x

/ks/

suffix

Used to represent a value that may vary: see x.

“alumnx, Chicanx, Latinx”

Meanings

-x1

suffix
  1. Used to represent a value that may vary: see x.

    I teach all of the 30x classes.

-x2

suffix
  1. USinformalUsed to replace a /ks/ sound, especially in monosyllabic words ending in -cks or -ks.

    blax (“blacks”), clox (“clocks”), fax (“facts”), folx (“folks”), hax (“hacks”), pix (“pics”), punx (“punks”), shox (“shocks”), snax (“snacks”), sox (“socks”), stix (“sticks”), tix (“tickets”), trax (“tracks”)

-x3

suffix
  1. An abbreviation marker.

    Dx (“diagnosis”), elex (“election”), Hx (“history”), pax (“passenger”), RX (“receive”), TX (“transmit”)

-x4

suffix
  1. neologismUsed to replace a gendered suffix.

    alumnx, Chicanx, Latinx

-X5

suffix
  1. abbreviationhobbiesAbbreviation of -cross.

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

-x · suffix

The letter x is prototypically pronounced [ks] in English; it therefore serves as a convenient shorthand for the digraphs (cs, ks, etc.) or trigraphs (cks etc.) that would otherwise represent that consonant cluster.

Full word history & related roots →

-x · suffix

From the use of x as a neutral or nonspecific placeholder.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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