Definition

A word that describes a noun but is used in a sentence as if it were a noun itself. For example, in the phrase 'the rich', 'rich' is an adjective that acts like a noun.

Example

In the phrase 'the merciful', the word 'merciful' acts as an adnoun.

Conversation

I was reading about grammar the other day, and I came across the term adnoun.

Oh really? What does that mean exactly?

It's basically an adjective used as a noun, like saying 'the merciful' instead of just 'merciful people'.

That makes sense! I never thought about it that way.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Adnoun is formed from "ad-" (meaning to or toward) and "noun" (from Latin "nomen", meaning name). The term refers to a word that is added to a noun to modify or describe it, thus indicating a relationship to the noun.

Memory Tip

Think of 'ad-' meaning 'to' or 'toward' and 'noun' meaning 'name' — this helps you remember that an adnoun is something that adds to or modifies a name.

Visually Confused Words