y

1 of 8

noun (1)

ˈwī 

plural y's or ys ˈwīz 

often capitalized, often attributive

1

a

: the 25th letter of the English alphabet

b

: a graphic representation of this letter

c

: a speech counterpart of orthographic y

2

: a graphic device for reproducing the letter y

3

: one designated y especially as the 25th in order or class or the second in order or class when x is made the first

4

: something shaped like the letter Y

y

2 of 8

abbreviation

1

yard

2

year

Y

3 of 8

noun (2)

ˈwī 

1

: ymca

2

: ywca

Y

4 of 8

symbol

yttrium

-y

5 of 8

adjective suffix

variants or less commonly -ey

ē;

 in some dialects, especially British, Southern US, and New England, often  but not shown at individual entries i

1

a

: characterized by : full of

blossomy

dirty

muddy

clayey

b

: having the character of : composed of

icy

waxy

c

: like : like that of

homey

wintry

—often with a disparaging connotation

stagy

2

a

: tending or inclined to

sleepy

chatty

b

: giving occasion for (specified) action

teary

c

: performing (specified) action

curly

-y

6 of 8

noun suffix (1)

 same 

plural -ies

1

: state : condition : quality

beggary

2

: activity, place of business, or goods dealt with

chandlery

laundry

3

: whole body or group

soldiery

-y

7 of 8

noun suffix (2)

plural -ies

: instance of a (specified) action

entreaty

inquiry

-y

8 of 8

noun suffix (3)

see -ie

Examples of y in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a word that starts with a y

a word that starts with y

Word History

Etymology

Adjective suffix

Middle English, from Old English -ig; akin to Old High German -īg -y, Latin -icus, Greek -ikos, Sanskrit -ika

Noun suffix (1)

Middle English -ie, from Anglo-French, from Latin -ia, from Greek -ia, -eia

Noun suffix (2)

Middle English -ie, from Anglo-French, from Latin -ium

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

circa 1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing y

• cringe-y
• Generation Y
• Gen Y
• the Y
• y-axis
• y-coordinate
• y-intercept

Kids Definition

y

1 of 6 noun

ˈwī

plural y's or ys

often capitalized

: the 25th letter of the English alphabet

Y

2 of 6 noun

ˈwī

1

: ymca

2

: ywca

-y

3 of 6 adjective suffix

variants also -ey

ē

-ier; -iest

1

a

: marked by : full of

blossomy

dirty

muddy

clayey

b

: composed of

icy

waxy

c

: like : like that of

homey

wintry

stagy

2

a

: tending to

sleepy

chatty

b

: causing or performing (a certain) action

teary

-y

4 of 6 noun suffix

ē

plural -ies

1

: state : condition : quality

jealousy

2

: activity, place of business, or goods dealt with

grocery

laundry

3

: whole body or group

soldiery

-y

5 of 6 noun suffix

plural -ies

: instance of a (certain) action

entreaty

inquiry

-y

6 of 6

see -ie

Etymology

Adjective suffix

Old English -ig (adjective suffix) "having the character of"

Noun suffix

derived from Greek -ia (noun suffix) "state, condition, quality"

Noun suffix

derived from Latin -ium (noun suffix) "an instance of a certain action"

Medical Definition

Y

symbol

yttrium