ency

1 of 2

abbreviation

variants or encyc

encyclopedia

-ency

2 of 2

noun suffix

: quality or state

despondency

Word History

Etymology

Noun suffix

Middle English -encie, from Latin -entia — more at -ence

Browse Nearby Words

encumbrancer

ency

-ency

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ency. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

-ency

noun suffix

-en·cy

ən-sē,

ᵊn-

plural -encies

: quality or state

despondency

Etymology

Noun suffix

derived from Latin -entia (noun suffix)

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Popular in Wordplay

ency

abbreviation

noun suffix

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

hobgoblin