Word part · Latin suffix
Suffix -ary words: meaning and 23 examples
In short
The Latin suffix -ary (from Latin) means "relating to; or a place for". Words with it include secondary, planetary, honorary, customary, commentary and documentary. Most -ary words describe (legendary, imaginary); a few name a place or thing (library, boundary).
- Part
- -ary
- Meaning
- relating to; or a place for
- Origin
- Latin
- Words listed
- 23
Most -ary words describe (legendary, imaginary); a few name a place or thing (library, boundary). A final e on the base drops.
Words with the Latin suffix -ary
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
Next: longer words (about grades 5 and 6)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| secondary | second (root or base)+ary (suffix)→secondary | coming second, or less important |
| boundary | bound (root or base)+ary (suffix)→boundary | a line that marks the edge of an area |
More words: library, primary, military, ordinary, summary, temporary, necessary, dictionary
Stretch: long or less common words (about grades 7 and 8)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| planetary | planet (root or base)+ary (suffix)→planetary | having to do with planets |
| honorary | honor (root or base)+ary (suffix)→honorary | given as an honor |
| customary | custom (root or base)+ary (suffix)→customary | done by custom, usual |
| commentary | comment (root or base)+ary (suffix)→commentary | a set of comments about something |
| documentary | document (root or base)+ary (suffix)→documentary | a film that tells about real events |
| imaginary | imagine (root or base)+ary (suffix)→imaginarydrop the e | existing only in the imagination |
| stationary | station (root or base)+ary (suffix)→stationary | standing still, not moving |
| legendary | legend (root or base)+ary (suffix)→legendary | famous, like someone in a legend |
| voluntary | volunt (root or base)+ary (suffix)→voluntary | done because you choose to, not because you must |
| voluntarily | volunt (root or base)+ary (suffix)+ly (suffix)→voluntarilychange y to i | by your own choice |
| involuntary | in (prefix)+volunt (root or base)+ary (suffix)→involuntary | done without choosing, like a sneeze |
| involuntarily | in (prefix)+volunt (root or base)+ary (suffix)+ly (suffix)→involuntarilychange y to i | without meaning to |
| voluntariness | volunt (root or base)+ary (suffix)+ness (suffix)→voluntarinesschange y to i | the state of being done by free choice |
How do you teach the suffix -ary?
Start with words that describe and have a clear base: legend and legendary, planet and planetary, custom and customary. Ask, "What does legendary mean?" Having to do with legends. Then show the naming job with boundary, a line that marks where land is bounded, and commentary, a set of comments. Imagine and imaginary show the drop-e rule. Library and dictionary belong here too, though their bases are Latin parts.
A quick routine
Write second, planet, honor, custom and imagine. Say, "Ary means relating to. Planet plus ary is planetary: having to do with planets." The student builds each word and says what it relates to. Pause on imagine and ask what happens to the e. Then point out stationary, which means not moving, and warn that stationery, with an e, is paper for writing letters.
What do students mix up with -ary?
Vary, wary, scary and dreary end in a-r-y but are not this suffix. Stationary and stationery sound the same: the -ary one means standing still, the -ery one means paper. Students also mix -ary and -ery at the ends of words; there is no sound clue, so match a word they know, like legendary.
Some of these words change spelling where the parts join. The spelling rules pages cover dropping e, doubling and changing y to i. 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 suffix -ary mean?
-ary means "relating to; or a place for". It is a Latin suffix. Most -ary words describe (legendary, imaginary); a few name a place or thing (library, boundary). A final e on the base drops.
What are some words with the suffix -ary?
Start with secondary, boundary, library and primary. Then move to planetary and honorary. This page lists 23 words in all, most with a word sum that shows the parts.
What is the difference between stationary and stationery?
Stationary, with -ary, means not moving: a stationary bike stays in place. Stationery, with -ery, means writing paper and envelopes. A memory trick some teachers use: stationery has e for envelope.
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