Compounding
The combination of two or more words to create a new word. Compounding is a major process of word formation creating neologisms.
Real World
'Smartphone' entered dictionaries in the early 2000s as a compound of 'smart' and 'phone'; its rapid adoption shows how compounding efficiently fills lexical gaps when technology creates new concepts.
Exam Focus
Identify whether compounds are open, hyphenated, or closed — this detail shows precise AO1 terminology use in language change questions.
How well did you know this?