attributive noun

noun

A noun that modifies another noun (thus functioning adjectivally) and that is grammatically optional; it may be a single word, a compound noun, or a noun phrase.

Similar
noun adjunctnoun modifiernoun premodifierqualifying nounapposite noun
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Meanings

nounattributive noun (plural attributive nouns)

plural attributive nouns

  1. grammarA noun that modifies another noun (thus functioning adjectivally) and that is grammatically optional; it may be a single word, a compound noun, or a noun phrase.

    Synonyms: noun adjunct, noun modifier, noun premodifier, qualifying noun, apposite noun

  2. when referring to a language other than EnglishgrammarA noun denoting bearer of a quality or an attribute of a subject, in reference to the lexical morpheme from which it is derived.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA noun that modifies another noun (thus functioning adjectivally) and that is grammatically optional; it may be a single word, a compound noun, or a noun phrase.

Similar
noun adjunctnoun modifiernoun premodifierqualifying nounapposite noun
Also see
adjectival nounnoun adjunctnoun modifier

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 歸屬名詞 /归属名词
  • 歸屬名詞 /归属名词 (guīshǔ míngcí)a noun that modifies another noun attributively
Finnish substantiivimäärite, substantiivimääre
  • substantiivimääritea noun that modifies another noun attributively
  • substantiivimäärea noun that modifies another noun attributively
French nom épithète
  • nom épithètea noun that modifies another noun attributively
Hungarian főnévi jelző
  • főnévi jelzőa noun that modifies another noun attributively
Polish rzeczownik atrybutywny
  • rzeczownik atrybutywnya noun that modifies another noun attributively
Russian определи́тельное существи́тельное, атрибути́вное существи́тельное
  • определи́тельное существи́тельное (opredelítelʹnoje suščestvítelʹnoje)a noun that modifies another noun attributively
  • атрибути́вное существи́тельное (atributívnoje suščestvítelʹnoje)a noun that modifies another noun attributively
Turkish tamlayan
  • tamlayana noun that modifies another noun attributively
Cite this entry
APA

attributive noun. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/attributive%20noun

MLA

“attributive noun.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/attributive%20noun. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “attributive noun,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/attributive%20noun.

Source: attributive noun on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.