Morphemes in “specialization”
“specialization” has 3 morphemes: special + -ize + -ation.
special
root
+
iz
suffix
+
ation
suffix
Spelling changes when the parts join: the boxes show the letters as written; the morphemes themselves are special + -ize + -ation.
Each morpheme explained
| Morpheme | Type | Free / bound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| special | free root | free | a special offering (usually temporary and at a reduced price) that is featured in advertising |
| -ize (written iz) | derivational suffix | bound | to make, to become, to treat with |
| -ation | derivational suffix | bound | action, process or result of |
How the word is built
special → specialize → specialization
Each step adds one affix to the word before it; the root “special” 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 "specialization"?
"specialization" has three morphemes: special + -ize + -ation.
How do you break "specialization" into morphemes?
special + -ize + -ation. The root is "special"; -ize is a derivational suffix, -ation is a derivational suffix.
What is the root word of "specialization"?
The root of "specialization" is "special", built up as special → specialize → specialization.
Is this morphology tool free?
Yes. The Fixie morphological analyzer is free with no signup and runs in your browser.