infix

1 of 3

verb

in·​fix ˈin-ˌfiks  in-ˈfiks 

infixed; infixing; infixes

transitive verb

1

: to fasten or fix by piercing or thrusting in

2

: to impress firmly in the consciousness or disposition

… the infixed, unrelenting fangs of some incurable idea …

—Herman Melville

3

: to insert (a sound or letter) as an infix

infixation

ˌin-(ˌ)fik-ˈsā-shən 

noun

infix

2 of 3

noun

in·​fix ˈin-ˌfiks 

: a derivational or inflectional affix appearing in the body of a word (such as Sanskrit -n- in vindami "I know" as contrasted with vid "to know")

Note: English has few formal infixes; the plural marker "s" in cupsful is one. Informal infixes are often vulgar, though blooming in absobloominglutely is a counterexample.

infix

3 of 3

adjective

in·​fix ˈin-ˌfiks 

: characterized by placement of a binary operator between the operands

a + b is expressed in infix notation

compare postfix, prefix

Did you know?

What is an infix?

Like prefixes and suffixes, infixes are part of the general class of affixes ("sounds or letters attached to or inserted within a word to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form"). Infixes are relatively rare in English, but you can find them in the plural forms of some words. For example, cupful, spoonful, and passerby can be pluralized as cupsful, spoonsful, and passersby, using "s" as an infix. Another example is the insertion of an (often offensive) intensifier into a word, as in "fan-freakin'-tastic." Such whole-word insertions are sometimes called infixes, though this phenomenon is more traditionally known as tmesis.

Synonyms of infix

Verb

• etch
• engrave

Choose the Right Synonym for infix

implant, inculcate, instill, inseminate, infix mean to introduce into the mind.

implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of what is taught.

implanted a love of reading in her students

inculcate implies persistent or repeated efforts to impress on the mind.

tried to inculcate in him high moral standards

instill stresses gradual, gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time.

instill traditional values in your children

inseminate applies to a sowing of ideas in many minds so that they spread through a class or nation.

inseminated an unquestioning faith in technology

infix stresses firmly inculcating a habit of thought.

infixed a chronic cynicism

Examples of infix in a Sentence

Verb

a puzzling detail that had been infixed in the detective's mind for over a decade

a football coach celebrated for infixing in his players an all-consuming will to win

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The path of the infix is uncertain, but linguist Joshua Viau has found similar examples in 1960s radio broadcasts and early 1970s drug slang. —Mark Peters, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Mar. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin infixus, past participle of infigere, from in- + figere to fasten — more at fix

First Known Use

Verb

1502, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1881, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1971, in the meaning defined above

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