What are Compound Words: Meaning, Definition, and Types

Compound words are made by joining two or more words to give a new meaning. Learn the compound words definition, types, and examples. Explore the 100+ compound words list to improve your reading, writing, and grammar skills.

Nikita Aggarwal19 Sept, 2025

Compound Words

Compound words are an important part of English grammar. They are formed when two or more words join together to make one bigger word or a phrase with a different meaning. We use them in our daily lives while reading, writing, and even speaking, without even noticing. Learning about English compound words is useful because they improve your vocabulary, help you write correct sentences, and make your English stronger for exams or schoolwork.

In grammar, compound words play a special role because they are used to connect ideas and give a clearer meaning. For example, the word "blackboard" is made from two words, which are "black" and "board." Alone, these words have different meanings, but when joined, they form a new word with a different meaning. By learning about English compound words, you can understand the language more easily and use it more confidently. Keep reading to learn the compound words meaning, types, and examples

Read more: Direct and Indirect Speech

Compound Words Meaning

What are compound words? is a common question that many students ask while learning this concept in grammar. The meaning of compound words is simple: when two or more small words are joined, they make one new word that has a different meaning from the original ones. These new words act like single words in grammar, even though they are built from two words.

You will find compound words everywhere in English. They help us write clearly and also make sentences shorter and easier to read. Now that you have understood compound words meaning, let's learn about their definition as per the different dictionaries.

Read More: Figures of Speech

Compound Words Definition

As per the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the compound words definition explains that these are nouns, adjectives, or verbs formed by joining two or more words. You may see them as a single word, with a hyphen, or even as separate words.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the definition of compound words states that these words are made when two or more words are linked together to form a new word that carries a different meaning than the original words.

Hence, as per all dictionaries, the compound words definition tells that these are special because they join two common words to create a new word with a unique meaning.

Also read: Abstract Nouns

Compound Words Examples

After learning the compound words definition and meaning, let’s check some compound words examples to understand them in a better way. The compound words list given below includes common everyday words that children often use.

Compound Words Examples
Compound Words	Individual Words
Sunflower	Sun + Flower
Notebook	Note + Book
Football	Foot + Ball
Toothpaste	Tooth + Paste
Playground	Play + Ground
Bedroom	Bed + Room
Rainbow	Rain + Bow
Haircut	Hair + Cut
Laptop	Lap + Top
Snowman	Snow + Man
Mailbox	Mail + Box
Toothbrush	Tooth + Brush
Railway	Rail + Way
Policeman	Police + Man
Classroom	Class + Room
Newspaper	News + Paper
Basketball	Basket + Ball
Airport	Air + Port
Waterfall	Water + Fall
Birthday	Birth + Day

Types of English Compound Words

There are three types of English compound words. They are known as open compound words, closed compound words, and hyphenated compound words. Let's understand them one by one with easy compound words examples for each type.

Types of English Compound Words
Name	Definition	Examples
Open Compound Words	These words are written with a space between them, but they work together as a single word in grammar.	Ice Cream, Post Office, High School, Peanut Butter, Roller Coaster, Living Room, Time Capsule
Closed Compound Words	These are written as one word without any spaces. They look like normal words but are made by joining two smaller words.	Notebook, Toothbrush, Sunflower, Bedroom, Rainbow, Mailbox, Football
Hyphenated Compound Words	These words are joined with a hyphen (-). They are often nouns or adjectives, and their plural forms depend on the main word.	Mother-in-law, Merry-go-round, Well-being, Long-term, Part-time, Father-in-law, Twenty-year-old

100+ Compound Words List for Kids

Go through the 100+ compound words list given below that will help you understand how two words join together to form a new word with a different meaning.

100+ Compound Words List for Kids
Closed Compound Words	Open Compound Words	Hyphenated Compound Words
Daydream	High school	Mother-in-law
Sunflower	Post office	Father-in-law
Handshake	Hot dog	Sister-in-law
Basketball	Ice cream	Brother-in-law
Mailbox	Real estate	Merry-go-round
Starfish	Living room	Long-term
Lipstick	First aid	Part-time
Teaspoon	Cotton candy	Up-to-date
Grandmother	Dining room	Twenty-one
Gentleman	Washing machine	Runner-up
Waterfall	Roller coaster	Check-in
Raincoat	Sleeping bag	Editor-in-chief
Blueberry	Peanut butter	Far-reaching
Toothpaste	Common sense	Warm-hearted
Grasshopper	Full moon	Cold-blooded
Underground	Life jacket	Well-dressed
Firehouse	Heart attack	Easy-going
Breakfast	Remote control	All-inclusive
Ladybug	Search engine	Good-looking
Moonlight	Video game	Narrow-minded
Zookeeper	Time capsule	Self-aware
Notebook	Traffic jam	Half-baked
Newspaper	Real estate	Open-minded
Haircut	Waiting room	Mother-to-be
Dragonfly	Test drive	Strong-willed
Overcoat	Web page	Old-fashioned
Snowball	Report card	Broad-minded
Toothpick	Sleeping bag	Well-educated
Sailboat	Prime minister	Go-getter
Sunroof	Cell phone	Right-hand
Cupboard	Dining hall	Rock-solid
Rainstorm	Roller skates	Life-size
Football	Bus stop	Free-for-all
Jellyfish	Coffee shop	Self-taught
Background	Remote control	Kind-hearted
Sidewalk	Work place	Eye-catching
Blackboard	Swimming pool	Mind-blowing
Popcorn	Class room	Topsy-turvy

Strengthen Your Child’s English Grammar with CuriousJr

Many parents notice that their children understand English but struggle with grammar, making mistakes in writing or speaking. Weak grammar can affect your child's confidence, marks in exams, and ability to express their thoughts clearly.

CuriousJr’s Online English Classes are designed to make grammar simple, fun, and easy to learn. Here’s what makes CuriousJr’s English by Cambridge program special:

Live interactive sessions with teachers for regular grammar practice.
Fun and easy-to-understand lessons on sentence structure, tenses, and punctuation.
Vocabulary and pronunciation exercises to speak clearly.
Creative writing, speaking activities, and games that make grammar learning enjoyable.
Regular progress updates so you can track your child’s improvement.

Book a demo class today and see how CuriousJr can help your child speak and write English correctly with confidence.

Compound Words FAQ

What are compound words in English grammar?

Compound words are formed when two or more words join together to make a new word with a different meaning.

What are the different types of English compound words?

There are three main types of compound words: Closed compound words (written as a single word), Open compound words (written as separate words but act as one), and Hyphenated compound words (joined with a hyphen).