Morphemes in “backward”
“backward” has 2 morphemes: back + -ward.
back
root
+
ward
suffix
Spelling changes when the parts join: the boxes show the letters as written; the morphemes themselves are back + -ward.
Each morpheme explained
| Morpheme | Type | Free / bound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| back | free root | free | the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine |
| -ward | derivational suffix | bound | in the direction of |
How the word is built
back → backward
Each step adds one affix to the word before it; the root “back” is where the chain starts.
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Segmentation derived from MorphyNet (Batsuren, Bella & Giunchiglia, 2021; CC BY-SA 3.0, built from Wiktionary), with hand-written affix glosses and root meanings from WordNet. Reviewed for classroom use; tell us if you spot an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many morphemes are in "backward"?
"backward" has two morphemes: back + -ward.
How do you break "backward" into morphemes?
back + -ward. The root is "back"; -ward is a derivational suffix.
What is the root word of "backward"?
The root of "backward" is "back", built up as back → backward.
Is this morphology tool free?
Yes. The Fixie morphological analyzer is free with no signup and runs in your browser.