Compound Nouns — Definition, Rules, and Examples
What is a compound noun?
A compound noun consists of two or more words that combine to form a new noun. The separate words do not need to be nouns themselves, but the compound word becomes a noun.
Once linked, they become either common nouns, proper nouns, or abstract nouns:
Common compound nouns: bedroom; policeman; airport
Proper compound nouns: North America; Pop-Tarts; White House
Abstract compound nouns: lovesick; self-control; software
Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and prepositions can combine to form compound nouns.
Types of compound nouns
There are three main types of compound nouns in English: open, hyphenated, and closed.
Open: Also known as spaced nouns, open compound nouns consist of two separate words that create a new idea when placed together. The first word often modifies the second word.
Hot dog; living room; full moon
Hyphenated: Hyphenated compound nouns form when two words join using a hyphen.
Long-term; mother-in-law; check-in
Closed: Also known as solid nouns, closed forms of compound nouns consist of two single words that join to form one new word.
Grandfather; baseball; grasshopper
Rules for compound nouns
Compound nouns are structured in one of the following ways:
| Structure | Examples |
|---|---|
| Noun + noun | Bedroom; moonlight; notebook |
| Verb + noun | Swimming pool; washing machine; mouth wash |
| Adjective + noun | Coffee cup; parking ticket; courthouse |
| Adjective + verb | Public speaking; dry cleaning |
| Preposition + noun | Underworld; overtime; outback |
| Preposition + verb | Output; burnout; downplay |
Compound noun examples
The following sentences include examples of compound nouns:
Noun + Noun
Jim and his dad enjoy watching football every Sunday.
Stephanie needs a ride to the airport in the morning.
Larry realized he had left the toothpaste in his bedroom.
Verb + Noun
Jan could not think of anything better than the first rainfall of spring.
Luckily, there was no community backlash when the park closed.
Nick finished eating his breakfast then left for work.
Adjective + Noun
Heather and Mark built a greenhouse at their new home.
The teacher invited Victoria up to the whiteboard.
Tom enjoyed eating fresh blackberries.
Adjective + Verb
Leslie remembered to pick up her dry cleaning.
Adam's shyness made him fearful of public speaking.
Preposition + Noun
There was an influx of new hotel guests over the weekend.
It was difficult to carry the dresser upstairs.
The bystanders enjoyed watching the street magician.
Preposition + Verb
The new boss appreciated Will's valuable input.
There was an uptick in sales during the holiday season.
The astronauts prepared for take-off.