Word part · Latin root
Fac root words: meaning and 30 examples
In short
The Latin root fac (from Latin) means "make, or do". It is also spelled fact, fect and fic. Words with it include benefit, benefits, benefited, benefiting, beneficial and benefactor.
- Part
- fac
- Meaning
- make, or do
- Origin
- Latin
- Also spelled
- fact, fect, fic, fici, fit
- Words listed
- 30
One of the busiest roots in English, with many spellings: fact in factor, fect in defect, fic in magnificent, fit in profit.
Words with the Latin root fac
The list runs from shorter, common words to longer ones. The bands are a rough guide built from syllable count and how common each word is in our word list, not a grade-level standard. Read each word, then its word sum.
Colors:prefixroot or basesuffix
Start here: short, common words (about grades 3 and 4)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| factor | fact (root or base)+or (suffix)→factor | something that helps make a result happen |
| factors | fact (root or base)+or (suffix)+s (suffix)→factors | more than one factor |
| defect | de (prefix)+fect (root or base)→defect | a fault made in something |
| defects | de (prefix)+fect (root or base)+s (suffix)→defects | more than one defect |
| infect | in (prefix)+fect (root or base)→infect | put germs into a body |
| profit | pro (prefix)+fit (root or base)→profit | money made after costs are paid |
| profits | pro (prefix)+fit (root or base)+s (suffix)→profits | more than one profit |
More words: fact, facts, effect, affect, perfect
Next: longer words (about grades 5 and 6)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| benefit | bene (root or base)+fit (root or base)→benefit | something good that a choice does for you |
| benefits | bene (root or base)+fit (root or base)+s (suffix)→benefits | more than one benefit |
| defective | de (prefix)+fect (root or base)+ive (suffix)→defective | made with a fault; not working right |
| infected | in (prefix)+fect (root or base)+ed (suffix)→infected | had germs put into it |
| infection | in (prefix)+fect (root or base)+ion (suffix)→infection | an illness caused by germs getting in |
| nonprofit | non (prefix)+pro (prefix)+fit (root or base)→nonprofit | a group that does not run to make money |
More words: factory, effective, perfection, sufficient
Stretch: long or less common words (about grades 7 and 8)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| benefited | bene (root or base)+fit (root or base)+ed (suffix)→benefited | got something good from it in the past |
| benefiting | bene (root or base)+fit (root or base)+ing (suffix)→benefiting | getting something good from it, now |
| beneficial | bene (root or base)+fici (root or base)+al (suffix)→beneficial | doing good; helpful |
| benefactor | bene (root or base)+fact (root or base)+or (suffix)→benefactor | a person who does good by giving help or money |
| benefactors | bene (root or base)+fact (root or base)+or (suffix)+s (suffix)→benefactors | more than one benefactor |
| profitable | pro (prefix)+fit (root or base)+able (suffix)→profitable | able to make money |
| unprofitable | un (prefix)+pro (prefix)+fit (root or base)+able (suffix)→unprofitable | not able to make money |
More words: manufacture
Where does fac sit in a word?
A root can come first, last or in the middle. Students who only look at the start of a word miss half of these.
- At the start:
- factor, factors
- In the middle:
- beneficial, benefactor, benefactors, defective, infection, profitable, unprofitable
- At the end:
- benefit, benefits, benefited, benefiting, defect, defects, infect, infected, profit, profits, nonprofit
How do you teach the root fac?
Fac means make or do, and it shows up in more spellings than nearly any other root: fac, fact, fect, fic and even fit. Start with factory, a place where things are made, and factor, one of the things that makes a result. Then show defect and infection with fect. A defect is something made wrong. Save the fic and fit spellings for later. Profit and magnificent make good stretch words.
A quick routine
Write fac, fact, fect, fic in a row and say, "Four spellings, one root. They all mean make or do." Give the student cards with factory, defect, profit and magnificent, and ask them to match each word to its spelling. Then say, "Tell me what is made or done in each word." A factory makes goods; a defect is made wrong. Dictate infection and check the fect.
What do students mix up with fac?
Students often spot fac in words that aren't from this root. Face, surface and facial come from a different word for the front of the head. Fiction looks like fic, but it comes from a root meaning shape or pretend. Teach students to try the meaning: if make or do doesn't fit at all, look for another root.
For the sounds inside these words, see the phonics word lists. Routines that fit: meanings of prefixes and suffixes, circle the parts, read the base and flexible routine for big words.
Questions people ask
What does the root fac mean?
Fac means "make, or do". It is a Latin root, also spelled fact, fect, fic, fici and fit. One of the busiest roots in English, with many spellings: fact in factor, fect in defect, fic in magnificent, fit in profit.
What are some words with the root fac?
Start with factor, factors, defect and defects. Then move to benefit, benefits, benefited and benefiting. This page lists 30 words in all, most with a word sum that shows the parts.
Why are affect and effect spelled with fect?
Both contain the root fac in its fect spelling, with a prefix that changed to match: ad became af, and ex became ef. That's why both words have a double f.
Related word parts
- actdo, or drive
- benegood, or well
- -ora person or thing that does something
- de-down, away, or remove
- pro-forward, or for
Terms on this page: morpheme, root, prefix, suffix, base word, word sum, morphology.
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