An ELT Glossary : Clipping


Clipping involves the reduction of a longer word or expression to a shorter one by excluding some of its syllables. For example :


  • phone - from telephone
  • photo - from photograph
  • exam - from examination
  • gym - from gymnastics or gymnasium
  • flu - from influenza
  • fridge - from refrigerator
  • sitcom - from situation comedy


Clipped forms usually have the same denotation as the words that they are formed from, but may be associated with a more informal style than the original word.


  Further reading

Thornbury, S. An A-Z of ELT, Macmillan


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