Word part · Latin suffix
Suffix -ory words: meaning and 16 examples
In short
The Latin suffix -ory (from Latin) means "relating to; or a place where". It is also spelled atory. Words with it include advisory, sensory, accessory, laboratory, observatory and exploratory. Like -ary, it can describe (sensory, advisory) or name a place (laboratory, observatory).
- Part
- -ory
- Meaning
- relating to; or a place where
- Origin
- Latin
- Also spelled
- atory
- Words listed
- 16
Like -ary, it can describe (sensory, advisory) or name a place (laboratory, observatory). It often comes as -atory.
Words with the Latin suffix -ory
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)
More words: directory
Stretch: long or less common words (about grades 7 and 8)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| advisory | advise (root or base)+ory (suffix)→advisorydrop the e | giving advice |
| sensory | sense (root or base)+ory (suffix)→sensorydrop the e | having to do with the senses |
| accessory | access (root or base)+ory (suffix)→accessory | an extra item that goes with something |
| laboratory | labor (root or base)+atory (suffix)→laboratory | a room where scientists do experiments |
| observatory | observe (root or base)+atory (suffix)→observatorydrop the e | a building for watching the sky |
| exploratory | explore (root or base)+atory (suffix)→exploratorydrop the e | done to explore or find out |
| preparatory | prepare (root or base)+atory (suffix)→preparatorydrop the e | done to get ready |
| migratory | migrate (root or base)+ory (suffix)→migratorydrop the e | moving from place to place with the seasons |
| inventory | invent (root or base)+ory (suffix)→inventory | a list of everything in stock |
More words: satisfactory, introductory, explanatory, contradictory, supervisory, mandatory
How do you teach the suffix -ory?
Begin with places, since they are easy to picture. A laboratory is a place where people labor at experiments; an observatory is a place for observing the sky. Then teach the describing job: sensory means relating to the senses, advisory means giving advice. Have the student find the base in each word and say it aloud. Drop-e shows up in advisory, sensory and observatory.
A quick routine
Write labor, observe, explore and prepare. Say, "Ory, or atory, means a place for or relating to. Observe plus atory is observatory: a place for observing." The student builds each word and sorts it: place or describing word. Ask, "What is a sensory detail in a story?" A detail you can see, hear, smell, taste or feel. Dictate inventory to close.
What do students mix up with -ory?
Story, glory and memory end in o-r-y, and history is related to story, not a base plus -ory. Factory and territory do carry the suffix, but their bases are hidden Latin parts. Students also confuse -ory with -ary; ask for a partner word, such as advise for advisory, to choose the vowel.
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 -ory mean?
-ory means "relating to; or a place where". It is a Latin suffix, also spelled atory. Like -ary, it can describe (sensory, advisory) or name a place (laboratory, observatory). It often comes as -atory.
What are some words with the suffix -ory?
Start with directory. Then move to advisory and sensory. This page lists 16 words in all, most with a word sum that shows the parts.
Is it laboratory or labratory?
Laboratory. Most people swallow the o when they talk, so students often leave it out in writing. Building it from labor + atory keeps every letter in place.
Related word parts
- -aryrelating to; or a place for
- -alhaving to do with
- -ivetending to, or having the quality of
- -ateto make or act on; or having
- -ythe act, state or 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.