Which term describes the base word you start with before prefixes or suffixes?

• A. Base word
• B. Stem
• C. Root word
• D. Word root

Answer: (C)

Think of the base form that carries the main meaning of a word. The term for that base form before you add prefixes or suffixes is the root word. It’s the core piece the rest of the word builds on, and it’s usually able to stand as a word on its own or is the simplest form that carries the main meaning. For example, in unhappiness, the root word is happy, and adding un- and -ness changes the word’s meaning while keeping the central idea. The other terms are related but used differently in practice: base word is a general, everyday way to talk about the form you start with; stem is the form to which affixes attach and may change when affixes are added; word root is another way people refer to the root, though teachers often prefer root word in grade-level material.