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Glite Dictionary
adnoun

adnoun

9.9
An adjective used as a noun to mean a group of people
  • noun
  • /ˈædˌnaʊn/
  • Specialized
: adjetivo sustantivado
  • In the phrase 'the rich and the poor,' both 'rich' and 'poor' are functioning as adnouns.

Examples

  • When an adjective stands alone to represent people, it is called an adnoun.

  • In the sentence 'the elderly are often overlooked,' the word adnoun describes how 'elderly' functions as a noun.

  • The term adnoun is rarely used outside of grammar discussions.

  • The term adnoun refers to adjectives used as nouns.

  • In literature, adnoun usage can enhance meaning.

  • An adnoun can be seen in phrases like 'the poor', where an adjective represents a group of people.

  • The role of an adnoun is to signify a specific group, such as in 'the homeless are seeking shelter.'

Surface Forms

adnoun singular
adnouns plural

Morphology

adnoun = noun (semi-transparent) = ad + noun

Formally built from the combining element 'ad-' (standing for adjective) + 'noun', so the meaning is derivable in specialist contexts, but the prefix 'ad-' is a non-productive combining form that many learners may not recognise.

Etymology

The word adnoun comes from joining ad- (from adjective) and noun, so it names an adjective that is used as a noun. A helpful example is 'the rich', where 'rich' stands for 'rich people'.