Adjectives are words we use to describe things. English teachers usually describe them as words that “modify or describe nouns and pronouns”. There are numerous types of adjectives, and most of them are a single word (e.g., beautiful, silly, playful).
What are compound adjectives?
Similar to compound nouns, compound adjectives consist of two or more words, often connected by a hyphen (or hyphens). Some examples of compound adjectives are: absent-minded, happy-go-lucky, short-term, and blue-collar.
She was absent-minded during the lecture.
He had a happy-go-lucky childhood.
The meeting was short-termed.
They were blue-collared workers.
Though they comprise two or more words, compound adjectives act as a single unit of thought or description.
ice-cold(as in, “an ice-cold beer”)world-famous(as in, “a world-famous author”)sugar-free(as in, “a sugar-free diet”)
How to use compound adjectives
Aside from the hyphen, compound adjectives are much like other adjectives and usually come directly before the word they modify. They are typically hyphenated before a noun, though some may be hyphenated even when used as predicate adjectives. They can combine nouns, adjectives, verbs, or numerals.
How to form compound adjectives?
To recap: Any time two (or more) words combine to describe a noun, it’s a compound adjective. We form them by combining nouns with participles (like “time-saving”), numbers with nouns or adjectives (like “two-year-old”), or adjectives with adjectives (like “high-quality”).
They appear directly before the noun they modify (e.g., “a short-term loan”). They can also be used as predicate adjectives, following a linking verb and changing the subject (e.g., “The house was well-maintained”).
| Part of speech | Examples |
| Adjective + Adjective: | absent-minded (as in, “an absent-minded professor”)happy-go-lucky (as in, “a happy-go-lucky attitude”) |
| Noun + Adjective + Adjective: | long-term investment (as in, “a long-term investment plan”) |
| Numeral + Adjective: | two-year-old (as in, “a two-year-old puppy”)eight-hour (as in, “an eight-hour shift”) |
When using compound adjectives like “short-term” or “blue-collar,” remember they often don’t add “-ed” to the second word; they stay “short” and “blue.”.
Hyphens with compound adjectives
The general rule of thumb is to hyphenate between two or more words (before a noun) when we want them to act as a single idea (and adjective).
Examples of compound adjectives
- He is a hard-working student.
- She is a fast-talking woman.
- The house was old-fashioned.
- He has a good-natured personality.
- She is a well-dressed woman.
- The computer was state-of-the-art.
Learn about other parts of speech
- What Are Pronouns? (First, Second, and Third)
- Types of Verbs (Modal, Stative, Infinitives, and Transitives)
- Parts of Speech (Nouns, Adjectives, Prepositions)
- What’s an Adverb? (Types of Adverbs)
- When to Use A or An (What’s an Article?)
- Types of Nouns (Common, Proper, Abstract, and Concrete)
Work Sheet
Based on the post, what is a compound adjective?
How are the words in a compound adjective often connected, especially when placed before a noun?
According to the post’s usage note, which is a common mistake when using compound adjectives like “short-term” or “blue-collar”?
Where do compound adjectives typically appear in a sentence when modifying a noun?
Which combination is mentioned in the post as a way to form compound adjectives?
Based on the example in the post, choose the correct compound adjective to describe the puppy’s age: She has a cute puppy.
Following the usage note in the post, choose the correct form: We are looking for a solution.
Following the usage note in the post, choose the correct form: The factory hired many laborers.
Choose the correct compound adjective from the examples to describe the professor: The professor left his umbrella at home.
Choose the correct compound adjective from the examples to describe the drink: He ordered an lemonade on the hot day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are compound adjectives?
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How do you form compound adjectives?
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Where do compound adjectives go?
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When should I use hyphens?
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What is a common compound adjective mistake?
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Yash, D. "Compound Adjectives Explained." Grammarflex, Jun 6, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/compound-adjectives-explained/.
Sources
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Compounds with superlatives. Grammarly.
