Compound Word List

Compound words stymie people all the time. And I don’t mean just regular people whose profession is not writing. I know of many writers who struggle with when to use one word and when to use two, or when to hyphenate. This list of compound words should help.

This is not a comprehensive list of compound words, but it is a good compound word list. Most of the words you have doubts about should be in here. The list contains more than 700 words.

 

When you are wondering whether a word is one word or two, check this list or consult a good dictionary. I always recommend checking the dictionary. Remember though, that not all dictionaries agree, especially on things like hyphens and compound words, so pick one dictionary or style guide and stick with it.

There are a few compound words that can be used as two words, but you’ll just have to learn them. An example is “anymore”.

You can say “I don’t want to see her anymore.”

Or you can say “I don’t want any more pie.”

It has a different meaning and you should be able to tell the difference by the context. One (any more) refers to quantity, as shown in “I don’t want any more pie.” The other version (anymore) refers to time.

Another one is “anyway”. As a compound word, anyway means besides/regardless. He didn’t have the money for the concert but he decided to go “anyway”.

“Any way” as two words means however possible as in she was getting a new car any way she could.

Times Are Changing

It’s important to note that grammar (along with most other things) is changing rapidly. The trend is to get rid of hyphens and to combine two words into one compound word. It happens all the time. “Backyard” used to be “back yard” meaning the back of a person’s house. It still means the same but now it’s commonly used as one word.

Another changeling is biotechnology. It started out as bio-technology (two words), but now is universally accepted as biotechnology (one word). And it didn’t take long for that transition to take effect.

Below are two screenshots of Google’s ngram search of the use of biotechnology and bio-technology. As you can see, the hyphenated version was in favor originally, but in the last few years it has slipped. If grammar trends are followed, the one-word version will quickly overtake the hyphenated version as the preferred way of usage.

 

List of Compound Words

There are other words on the list that are subject to scrutiny. My advice is to use the list for a quick referral, but if in doubt, check a good dictionary or style guide.

•   aboveboard

•   afterglow

•   afterimage

•   afterlife

•   afternoon

•   airfield

•   airlift

•   airline

•   airmen

•   airplane

•   airport

•   allover

•   allspice

•   alongside

•   also

•   another

•   anybody

•   anyhow

•   anymore

•   anyone

•   anyplace

•   anytime

•   anyway

•   anywhere

•   around

•   ashtray

•   babysitter

•   backache

•   backbite

•   backbone

•   backbreaker

•   backdrop

•   backfire

•   background

•   backhand

•   backlash

•   backlog

•   backpack

•   backside

•   backslap

•   backslide

•   backspace

•   backspin

•   backstage

•   backstroke

•   backtrack

•   backward

•   backyard

•   ballpark

•   ballroom

•   bankbook

•   bankroll

•   baseball

•   basketball

•   beachcomber

•   became

•   because

•   become

•   bedclothes

•   bedrock

•   bedroll

•   bedroom

•   bellbottom

•   bellboy

•   bellhop

•   below

•   blackball

•   blackberries

•   blackbird

•   blackboard

•   blackjack

•   blacklist

•   blackmail

•   blackout

•   blacksmith

•   blacktop

•   blowgun

•   bluebell

•   blueberry

•   bluebird

•   bluefish

•   bluegrass

•   blueprint

•   boardwalk

•   bodyguard

•   bodywork

•   boldface

•   bookcase

•   bookend

•   bookkeeper

•   bookmark

•   bookmobile

•   bookseller

•   bookshelf

•   bookstore

•   bookworm

•   bootstrap

•   bowlegs

•   bowtie

•   brainchild

•   brainwash

•   bugspray

•   butterball

•   buttercup

•   butterfingers

•   butterflies

•   buttermilk

•   butternut

•   butterscotch

•   bypass

•   cabdriver

•   cancan

•   candlelight

•   candlestick

•   cannot

•   cardboard

•   cardsharp

•   cardstock

•   carefree

•   caretaker

•   careworn

•   carfare

•   cargo

•   carhop

•   carload

•   carpetbagger

•   carpool

•   carport

•   carrack

•   carryall

•   carsick

•   cartwheel

•   cattail

•   catwalk

•   caveman

•   cheeseburger

•   cheesecake

•   clockwise

•   coffeemaker

•   comeback

•   comedown

•   commonplace

•   commonwealth

•   cornmeal

•   courthouse

•   courtyard

•   crewcut

•   crossbow

•   crossbreed

•   crosscut

•   crossover

•   crosswalk

•   dairymaid

•   daisywheel

•   daybed

•   daybook

•   daybreak

•   daydream

•   daylight

•   daytime

•   deadline

•   dishcloth

•   dishpan

•   dishwasher

•   dishwater

•   diskdrive

•   dogwood

•   doorstop

•   downbeat

•   downunder

•   drawbridge

•   driveway

•   duckbill

•   duckpin

•   duckweed

•   earache

•   eardrop

•   eardrum

•   earring

•   earthbound

•   earthquake

•   earthward

•   earthworm

•   egghead

•   eggshell

•   elsewhere

•   everything

•   eyeballs

•   eyeglasses

•   eyelash

•   eyelid

•   eyesight

•   eyewitness

•   fatherland

•   firearm

•   fireball

•   fireboat

•   firebomb

•   firebreak

•   firecracker

•   firefighter

•   fireflies

•   firehouse

•   fireproof

•   firewater

•   fireworks

•   fishbowl

•   fisherman

•   fisheye

•   fishhook

•   fishlike

•   fishmonger

•   fishnet

•   fishpond

•   fishtail

•   football

•   foothill

•   footlights

•   footlocker

•   footnote

•   footprints

•   footrest

•   forbearer

•   forbid

•   forearm

•   forebear

•   forebrain

•   forecast

•   forecastle

•   foreclose

•   foreclosure

•   foredoom

•   forefather

•   forefeet

•   forefinger

•   forefoot

•   forego

•   foregone

•   foreground

•   forehand

•   forehead

•   foreknowledge

•   foreleg

•   foreman

•   foremost

•   forepaws

•   foresee

•   foreshadow

•   foresight

•   forestall

•   forethought

•   foretold

•   forever

•   forewarn

•   foreword

•   forget

•   forgive

•   forklift

•   format

•   fortnight

•   friendship

•   fruitcup

•   gearshift

•   glassmaking

•   goodbye

•   goodnight

•   grandaunt

•   grandchild

•   grandchildren

•   granddaughter

•   grandfather

•   grandmaster

•   grandmother

•   grandnephew

•   grandnieces

•   grandparent

•   grandson

•   grandstand

•   granduncle

•   grasshopper

•   grassland

•   graveyard

•   haircut

•   hamburger

•   hammerhead

•   handbook

•   handcuff

•   handgun

•   handmade

•   handout

•   headache

•   headdress

•   headlight

•   headline

•   headquarters

•   hereafter

•   hereby

•   herein

•   hereupon

•   herself

•   highball

•   highchair

•   highland

•   highway

•   himself

•   homemade

•   hometown

•   honeybee

•   honeycomb

•   honeydew

•   honeymoon

•   honeysuckle

•   hookup

•   hookworm

•   horseback

•   horsefly

•   horsehair

•   horseman

•   horseplay

•   horsepower

•   horseradish

•   houseboat

•   household

•   housekeeper

•   housetop

•   housework

•   however

•   inside

•   intake

•   ironwork

•   itself

•   jackpot

•   jailbait

•   jellybean

•   jellyfish

•   jetliner

•   jetport

•   jumpshot

•   keyboard

•   keyhole

•   keynote

•   keypad

•   keypunch

•   keystone

•   keystroke

•   keyway

•   keyword

•   lifeblood

•   lifeboat

•   lifeguard

•   lifelike

•   lifeline

•   lifelong

•   lifesaver

•   lifetime

•   lifework

•   limelight

•   limestone

•   longhand

•   longhouse

•   lukewarm

•   mainland

•   mainline

•   matchbox

•   meantime

•   meanwhile

•   moonbeam

•   moonlight

•   moonlit

•   moonscape

•   moonshine

•   moonstruck

•   moonwalk

•   moreover

•   mothball

•   motherhood

•   motorcycle

•   nearby

•   nevermore

•   newborn

•   newfound

•   newsboy

•   newsbreak

•   newscaster

•   newsdealer

•   newsletter

•   newsman

•   newspaper

•   newsperson

•   newsprint

•   newsreel

•   newsroom

•   newsstand

•   newsworthy

•   nightfall

•   nobody

•   noisemaker

•   northeast

•   notebook

•   noteworthy

•   nowhere

•   nursemaid

•   nutcracker

•   oneself

•   onetime

•   overabundance

•   overboard

•   overcoat

•   overflow

•   overland

•   overshoes

•   pacemaker

•   pancake

•   passbook

•   passkey

•   Passover

•   passport

•   paycheck

•   peppermint

•   pickup

•   pinhole

•   pinstripe

•   pinup

•   pinwheel

•   playback

•   playboy

•   playhouse

•   playthings

•   ponytail

•   popcorn

•   postcard

•   racquetball

•   railroad

•   railway

•   rainbow

•   raincheck

•   raincoat

•   raindrop

•   rainstorm

•   rainwater

•   rattlesnake

•   rattletrap

•   repairman

•   riverbanks

•   rubberband

•   sailboat

•   salesclerk

•   sandlot

•   sandstone

•   saucepan

•   scapegoat

•   scarecrow

•   schoolbook

•   schoolboy

•   schoolbus

•   schoolhouse

•   schoolwork

•   seashore

•   setback

•   sharecropper

•   sharpshooter

•   sheepskin

•   shoelace

•   shoemaker

•   shortbread

•   showoff

•   showplace

•   sideburns

•   sidekick

•   sideshow

•   sidewalk

•   silversmith

•   sisterhood

•   sixfold

•   skateboard

•   skintight

•   skylark

•   skylight

•   skyscraper

•   slapstick

•   slowdown

•   slumlord

•   snakeskin

•   snowball

•   snowbank

•   snowbird

•   snowdrift

•   softball

•   software

•   somebody

•   someday

•   somehow

•   someone

•   someplace

•   something

•   sometimes

•   somewhat

•   somewhere

•   soundproof

•   southeast

•   southwest

•   soybean

•   spacewalk

•   spearmint

•   spillway

•   spokesperson

•   stagehand

•   standby

•   standoff

•   standout

•   standpipe

•   standpoint

•   starfish

•   steamboat

•   steamship

•   stepson

•   stockroom

•   stonewall

•   stoplight

•   stopwatch

•   storerooms

•   stronghold

•   subway

•   sunbaked

•   sunbathe

•   Sunday

•   sundial

•   sundown

•   sunfish

•   sunflower

•   sunglasses

•   sunlit

•   sunroof

•   sunup

•   supercargo

•   supercharge

•   supercool

•   superego

•   superfine

•   supergiant

•   superhero

•   superhighways

•   superhuman

•   superimpose

•   superman

•   supermarket

•   supermen

•   supernatural

•   superpower

•   superscript

•  supersensitive

•   supersonic

•   superstar

•      superstructure

•   supertanker

•   superwoman

•   sweetheart

•   sweetmeat

•   tablecloth

•   tablespoon

•   tabletop

•   tableware

•   tadpole

•   tagalong

•   tailbone

•   tailcoat

•   tailgate

•   taillight

•   taillike

•   tailpiece

•   tailspin

•   takeoff

•   takeout

•   takeover

•   talebearer

•   taleteller

•   tapeworm

•   taproom

•   taproot

•   target

•   taskmaster

•   taxicab

•   taxpayer

•   teacup

•   teammate

•   teamwork

•   teapot

•   teaspoon

•   teenager

•   telltale

•   tenderfoot

•   tenfold

•   textbook

•   themselves

•   therefore

•   throwaway

•   throwback

•   thunderbird

•   thunderbolt

•   thunderstorm

•   timekeeper

•   timepieces

•   timesaving

•   timeshare

•   timetable

•   today

•   together

•   toolbox

•   toothpaste

•   toothpick

•   touchdown

•   township

•   turnabout

•   turnaround

•   turnbuckle

•   turncoat

•   turndown

•   turnkey

•   turnoff

•   turntable

•   typewriter

•   underachieve

•   underact

•   underage

•   underarm

•   underbelly

•   underbid

•   undercharge

•   underclothes

•   undercover

•   undercurrent

•   undercut

•   underdog

•   underestimate

•   underexpose

•   underfoot

•   underground

•   upbeat

•   upbringing

•   upcoming

•   update

•   upend

•   upgrade

•   upheaval

•   upheld

•   uphill

•   uphold

•   upkeep

•   upland

•   uplift

•   uplink

•   upload

•   upmarket

•   upon

•   uppercase

•   upperclassman

•   uppercut

•   uppermost

•   upright

•   uprising

•   uproar

•   uproot

•   upscale

•   upset

•   upshot

•   upside

•   upstage

•   upstairs

•   upstanding

•   upstart

•   upstate

•   upstream

•   upstroke

•   uptake

•   upthrust

•   uptight

•   uptime

•   uptown

•   upturn

•   upward

•   upwind

•   waistline

•   walkways

•   walleyed

•   wallpaper

•   wardroom

•   warehouse

•   warfare

•   warlike

•   warmblooded

•   warpath

•   washboard

•   washbowl

•   washcloth

•   washhouse

•   washout

•   washrag

•   washroom

•   washstand

•   washtub

•   wastebasket

•   wasteland

•   wastepaper

•   wastewater

•   watchband

•   watchdog

•   watchmaker

•   watchman

•   watchtower

•   watchword

•   watercolor

•   watercraft

•   waterfall

•   waterfowl

•   waterfront

•   waterline

•   waterlog

•   watermark

•   watermelon

•   waterpower

•   waterproof

•   waterscape

•   watershed

•   waterside

•   waterspout

•   watertight

•   waterway

•   waterwheel

•   waterworks

•   wavelength

•   wavelike

•   waxwork

•   waybill

•   wayfarer

•   waylaid

•   wayside

•   wayward

•   weathercock

•   weatherman

•   weatherproof

•   weekday

•   weekend

•   weeknight

•   whatever

•   whatsoever

•   wheelbarrow

•   wheelbase

•   wheelchair

•   wheelhouse

•   whitecap

•   whitefish

•   whitewall

•   whitewash

•   widespread

•   wipeout

•   without

•   woodshop

By the way, if you want to download this list, click the link.

And if this list interested you, check out the others. Here’s one on absolutes.

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Giacomo Giammatteo is the author of gritty crime dramas about murder, mystery, and family. And he also writes nonfiction books including the No Mistakes Careers series as well as books about grammar, publishing., and children’s fiction and nonfiction.

When Giacomo isn’t writing, he’s helping his wife take care of the animals on their sanctuary. At last count, they had forty animals—seven dogs, one horse, six cats, and twenty-five pigs.

Oh, and one crazy—and very large—wild boar, who used to take walks with Giacomo every day.

He lives in Texas where he and his wife have an animal sanctuary with forty-five loving “friends.”

Tags: editing, grammar, writing