Word part · Latin root
Flex root words: meaning and 13 examples
In short
The Latin root flex (from Latin) means "bend". It is also spelled flect. Words with it include reflex, inflexible, reflect, reflects, reflected and reflecting. Flex and flect are the same root.
- Part
- flex
- Meaning
- bend
- Origin
- Latin
- Also spelled
- flect
- Words listed
- 13
Flex and flect are the same root. Flect turns up before -ion and -or: reflection, reflector.
Words with the Latin root flex
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 |
|---|---|---|
| reflex | re (prefix)+flex (root or base)→reflex | a quick movement your body makes without thinking |
| reflect | re (prefix)+flect (root or base)→reflect | bend light or sound back |
| reflects | re (prefix)+flect (root or base)+s (suffix)→reflects | bends light or sound back (one thing, now) |
Next: longer words (about grades 5 and 6)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| reflected | re (prefix)+flect (root or base)+ed (suffix)→reflected | bent light or sound back in the past |
| reflecting | re (prefix)+flect (root or base)+ing (suffix)→reflecting | bending light or sound back, now |
| reflection | re (prefix)+flect (root or base)+ion (suffix)→reflection | an image bent back from a mirror or water |
| deflect | de (prefix)+flect (root or base)→deflect | bend something away from its path |
| flexible | flex (root or base)+ible (suffix)→flexible | able to bend without breaking |
Stretch: long or less common words (about grades 7 and 8)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| inflexible | in (prefix)+flex (root or base)+ible (suffix)→inflexible | not able to bend; not willing to change |
| reflections | re (prefix)+flect (root or base)+ion (suffix)+s (suffix)→reflections | more than one reflection |
| reflector | re (prefix)+flect (root or base)+or (suffix)→reflector | a shiny part that bends light back |
| reflectors | re (prefix)+flect (root or base)+or (suffix)+s (suffix)→reflectors | more than one reflector |
More words: flexibility
Where does flex 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.
- In the middle:
- inflexible, reflection, reflections, reflector, reflectors
- At the end:
- reflex, reflect, reflects, reflected, reflecting, deflect
How do you teach the root flex?
Flex means bend, and students can feel it: ask them to flex an arm. A flexible ruler bends; an inflexible rule does not. The second spelling, flect, is the one in reflect and reflection. Light hits a mirror and bends back. Show the pair flexible and reflection together and say they share a root, because students don't usually guess that on their own.
A quick routine
Hold up a ruler and bend it gently. Say, "Flex means bend. This ruler is flexible." Write reflect and say, "Re means back. Reflect means bend back." Shine a light on a mirror if you have one. Ask the student to read reflection, reflector and deflect and say where the bending happens. End by asking, "When you reflect on your day, what bends back?" Your thoughts do.
What do students mix up with flex?
Students often think reflect is only about mirrors and miss the thinking sense. Show both: a mirror reflects light, and a student reflects on a lesson. Spelling trips them up too. The root is flect before -ion, so reflection, not reflexion. A short sort of flex and flect words fixes it.
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 flex mean?
Flex means "bend". It is a Latin root, also spelled flect. Flex and flect are the same root. Flect turns up before -ion and -or: reflection, reflector.
What are some words with the root flex?
Start with reflex, reflect and reflects. Then move to reflected, reflecting, inflexible and reflections. This page lists 13 words in all, most with a word sum that shows the parts.
Is a reflex related to reflect?
Yes. Both come from flex, bend. A reflex is a movement that bends back at once when something touches you, like a knee jerk.
Related word parts
- re-again, or back
- de-down, away, or remove
- -ablecan be, or able to be
- vertturn
- -ora person or thing that does something
- -tionthe act of, or the result of
Terms on this page: morpheme, root, prefix, suffix, base word, word sum, morphology.
Teach word parts with ready lessons
Literacy Trail has word parts lessons with words to read, build, split and spell, and full-screen players for the student. Every plan starts with a 15-day free trial.