Compound Nouns - Meaning, Definition, Types and Examples

When a noun or another part of speech combines with another noun or any other part of speech to form a noun, it is called a compound noun. This article will provide you with an introduction to compound nouns, types and examples of compound nouns.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Compound Noun?
  • Definition of a Compound Noun
• Types of Compound Nouns with Examples
  • Spaced or Open Compound Noun
  • Hyphenated Compound Nouns
  • Closed or Solid Compound Nouns
• Forming Compound Nouns
  • Noun + Noun
  • Noun + Verb
  • Noun + Gerund
  • Gerund + Noun
  • Noun+ Preposition + Noun/Noun + Prepositional Phrase
  • Preposition + Verb
  • Verb + Preposition
  • Preposition + Noun
  • Adjective + Noun
  • Adjective + Verb
  • Repetitive/Rhyming Words
  • Places, Nationalities and Titles
• Check Your Knowledge of Compound Nouns
• Frequently Asked Questions on Compound Nouns

What Is a Compound Noun?

A compound noun is a noun that is formed by a combination of more than one part of speech. Compound nouns are of three main types: Open or spaced compound nouns, hyphenated compound nouns and closed or solid compound nouns.

Definition of a Compound Noun

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a compound noun is defined as ‘a noun that is made up of two or more different words, for example, “cake shop”, “French fries”, “high-flyer”, or “schoolteacher”.’ The Oxford Learners’ Dictionary provides a similar definition. It defines a compound noun as ‘a noun, an adjective or a verb made of two or more words or parts of words, written as one or more words, or joined by a hyphen. Travel agent, dark-haired and bathroom are all compound nouns.’

Types of Compound Nouns with Examples

As mentioned above, there are three main types of compound nouns.

Spaced or Open Compound Noun

A spaced or open compound noun is one in which there is a space between the two words which form the compound noun.

For example:

• Cricket bat
• Fast food
• Flower shop

Hyphenated Compound Nouns

A hyphenated compound noun is one in which the two words are separated with the use of a hyphen.

For example:

• By-product
• Mother-in-law
• Passer-by

Closed or Solid Compound Nouns

A closed or solid compound noun is one in which the two words do not have any spaces or hyphens separating them. They are usually considered as a single word.

For example:

• Sunflower
• Classroom
• Rainfall

Forming Compound Nouns

You can form compound nouns by combining different parts of speech. All compound nouns, though belonging to different parts of speech, perform the same function as a noun. Let us see how different compound nouns are formed.

Noun + Noun

Check out the following examples of compound nouns formed using two separate nouns.

Noun + Verb

Have a look at the following compound nouns formed using a noun and a verb.

Noun + Gerund

Take a look at the following compound nouns formed using a combination of a noun and a gerund (verb+ing).

Gerund + Noun

Check out the following examples of compound nouns by combining a gerund and a noun.

Noun + Preposition + Noun/Noun + Prepositional Phrase

Given below are compound nouns formed by combining a noun and a preposition phrase.

Preposition + Verb

Have a look at the compound nouns given below formed by combining a preposition and a verb.

Verb + Preposition

Given below are examples of compound nouns formed by a combination of a verb and a preposition.

Preposition + Noun

Here are a few examples of compound nouns formed by the combination of a preposition and a noun.

Adjective + Noun

Check out the following compound nouns formed by combining an adjective and a noun.

Adjective + Verb

Have a look at the following compound nouns formed by combining an adjective and a verb.

Repetitive Words / Rhyming Words

Take a look at the following compound nouns formed by a combination of two rhyming words or repetitive words.

Places, Nationalities and Titles

Here are some compound nouns that refer to places, nationalities and titles.

Check Your Knowledge of Compound Nouns

Identify the compound nouns in the following sentences:

1. He is such a showoff.
2. What do you know about Native Americans?
3. The teacher wrote down all the sentences on the blackboard.
4. The Prime Minister will be meeting the US President tomorrow.
5. That is the silver lining I was talking to you about.
6. The security guard got into trouble as he misplaced the walkie-talkie.
7. My uncle had a heart attack.
8. Sunsets are always a pleasant sight.
9. My father asked my brother to get a haircut before the wedding.
10. I heard that Sandra has a swimming pool inside her house.

Now, let us find out if you got it right.

1. He is such a showoff.
2. What do you know about Native Americans?
3. The teacher wrote down all the sentences on the blackboard.
4. The Prime Minister will be meeting the US President tomorrow.
5. That is the silver lining I was talking to you about.
6. The security guard got into trouble as he misplaced the walkie-talkie.
7. My uncle had a heart attack.
8. Sunsets are always a pleasant sight.
9. My father asked my brother to get a haircut before the wedding.
10. I heard that Sandra has a swimming pool inside her house.