Looking up...
closed-class word
/ˈkloʊzd klæs wɜːd/
a word that belongs to a fixed set of grammatical categories
Pronouns like 'he' and 'she' are closed-class words.
They are part of a fixed set of words that don't easily accept new members.
technical
A word that belongs to a fixed set of grammatical categories, such as pronouns, prepositions, or conjunctions, which rarely accept new members.
In English, prepositions like 'in', 'on', and 'at' are closed-class words.
They form a fixed group that doesn't easily expand with new words.
Closed-class words contrast with open-class words like nouns and verbs, which can easily add new members.
While 'internet' can be a new noun, 'in' cannot be replaced by a new preposition.
Closed-class words are often function words that serve grammatical roles rather than conveying lexical meaning.
Collocations
open-class worda word that can easily accept new members, like nouns and verbs
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing Closed-Class Words
Closed-class words are often short, frequent, and serve grammatical roles. Examples include pronouns ('he', 'she'), prepositions ('in', 'on'), and conjunctions ('and', 'but').
Gold Rule
Fixed Nature of Closed-Class Words
Closed-class words are resistant to change and rarely accept new members, unlike open-class words.
Word Origin
Derived from the linguistic concept of closed lexical categories, which are fixed in number and resistant to change.
Usage Notes
Closed-class words are typically function words that serve grammatical roles, such as pronouns, prepositions, and conjunctions. They contrast with open-class words, which can easily add new members.
Word Breakdown
closed-class
belonging to a fixed set of grammatical categories
phraseword
a unit of language that carries meaning
rootEnglish Dictionary