interfix

in·ter·fix
I1N1T1E1R1F4I1X8

noun

An empty morph inserted between two morphemes in the process of word formation, such as English -i- and -o-.

Scrabble 18

Meanings

nouninterfix (plural interfixes)

plural interfixes

  1. human sciencesAn empty morph inserted between two morphemes in the process of word formation, such as English -i- and -o-.

    An empty morph is an interfix if it fulfills all of the following three conditions (Dressier, 1985f).

    2004, Francis Katamba, Morphology: Critical Concepts in Linguistics, →ISBN, page 187
  2. human sciencesA transfix.
  3. datedinformation retrievalcomputingAn association link.

    LOCANT, n. A number used in the Dyson cipher system for coding the position of substituents of carbon chain, i.e. an interfix.

    1959, Frank S. Wagner, Jr., A Dictionary of Documentation Terms, page 19
verbinterfix (third-person singular simple present interfixes, present participle interfixing, simple past and past participle interfixed)

present singular third person interfixes · participle present interfixing · participle past interfixed · past interfixed

  1. transitiveengineeringTo attach or anchor (two or more parts) together.

    Generally speaking the article is formed of two pieces which are interfixed for providing a pair of spring urged jaws...

    1932, Elmer G. Koch, "Collar Fastener", United States Patent 1915250 http://www.google.com/patents?id=tpZPAAAAEBAJ, page 2
  2. transitivehuman sciencesTo insert (an interfix) between two morphemes.

    Our goal in the construction of this task was to isolate and highlight the relationship between the interfixed and free forms of the initial constituent.

    2001, Wolfgang U. Dressler et al., “The Processing of interfixed German compounds”, in Yearbook of Morphology 1999, →ISBN, page 185

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁én
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁n̥tér
  3. Proto-Italic*n̥ter
  4. Latininter
  5. Latininter-
  6. Englishinter-
  7. Englishfix
  8. Englishinterfix

From inter- + fix.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans invoegsel, interfiks
  • invoegselan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
  • interfiksan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Chinese Mandarin 間綴 /间缀
  • 間綴 /间缀an empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Czech interfix
  • interfixan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Danish bindebogstav, interfiks
  • bindebogstavan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
  • interfiksan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Dutch invoegsel, interfix
  • invoegselan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
  • interfixan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Finnish interfiksi
  • interfiksian empty morph inserted between two morphemes
French interfixe
  • interfixean empty morph inserted between two morphemes
German Fugenelement
  • Fugenelementan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Korean 인터픽스
  • 인터픽스 (inteopikseu)an empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Norwegian fugemorfem, interfiks
  • fugemorfeman empty morph inserted between two morphemes
  • interfiksan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Persian میانوند
  • میانوند (miyân-vand)an empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Polish międzyrostek
  • międzyrostekan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Portuguese interfixo
  • interfixoan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Russian и́нтерфикс, соедини́тельный а́ффикс
  • и́нтерфикс (ínterfiks)an empty morph inserted between two morphemes
  • соедини́тельный а́ффикс (sojedinítelʹnyj áffiks)an empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Spanish interfijo
  • interfijoan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Swedish fogemorfem, interfix
  • fogemorfeman empty morph inserted between two morphemes
  • interfixan empty morph inserted between two morphemes
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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