What Is a Compound Adjective? | Examples & Uses

A compound adjective is an adjective that is formed from multiple words. Compound adjectives are typically joined by hyphens when they precede the noun they modify (e.g., “two-year-old child”). But, in some cases, compound adjectives aren’t hyphenated.

Compound adjective examples

A compound adjective can be formed from a variety of parts of speech. Many compound adjectives don’t contain an adjective component at all.

Compound adjectives can be formed from various combinations of adjectives, adverbs, nouns, present participles, and past participles, among other parts of speech.

When should compound adjectives be hyphenated?

Compound adjectives are often hyphenated if they precede a noun and collectively modify it. When compound adjectives precede the noun or pronoun they modify, hyphenation prevents ambiguity and makes the sentence easier to read.

For example, “I saw a fish eating bear” could be jarring without a hyphen, but the meaning of “I saw a fish-eating bear” is clear once the hyphen is added.

Compound adjectives that aren’t hyphenated

In some contexts, compound adjectives aren’t hyphenated. Hyphens typically aren’t needed for clarity when a compound adjective follows the noun or pronoun it modifies (e.g., compare “a seventy-year-old man” to “a man who is seventy years old”).

Compound adjectives with numbers

Numbers are often included in compound adjectives to specify quantities or measurements. For instance, “a three-hour movie” indicates duration, “a five-star restaurant” denotes a top rating, and “a ten-page document” highlights page count. When compound adjectives with numbers precede the word they modify, hyphenation is advised for clarity.

Compound adjectives with adverbs

Adverbs are commonly used in compound adjectives to describe the manner or intensity of an action (e.g., “a swiftly moving river”). When a compound adjective includes “very” or any adverb that ends in the suffix “-ly,” it should not be hyphenated.

Other adverbs, such as “well” are hyphenated when used as part of a compound adjective that precedes the noun it modifies (e.g., “never-repeated phenomenon”).

Compound adjectives with superlatives

Superlatives are often included in compound adjectives, expressing that the noun they modify has the highest or lowest degree of a given quality.

• Superlatives ending in “-est”: It’s common to use hyphens when a superlative ending in “-est” is part of a compound adjective (e.g., “the fastest-running athlete,” “the longest-ruling leader”).
• “Most” or “least” superlatives: When the words “most” or “least” are used with a superlative, hyphens are typically omitted (e.g., “the most beautiful wedding cake,” “my least enjoyable math class”).

The use of hyphens in compound adjectives can vary depending on the context. Consult a dictionary if you’re not sure how to hyphenate a compound adjective.

Frequently asked questions about compound adjectives

What is a compound predicate adjective?

A compound predicate adjective is an adjective formed from multiple words that follows a linking verb and renames the subject of a sentence (e.g., “My cat is orange and white striped”).

Because compound predicate adjectives follow the noun or pronoun they modify, they typically aren’t hyphenated.

How do you hyphenate a three-word compound adjective?

In a three-word compound adjective, a hyphen is typically used between each word in the sequence (e.g., “a well-thought-out plan”).

When a three-word compound adjective incorporates a compound proper noun, such as “New York,” it is generally unnecessary to use a hyphen between the words that comprise the proper noun (e.g., “New York-style,” “Great Gatsby-themed,” “Franz Kafka-inspired”).

In cases like these, many writers use an en dash instead of a hyphen (e.g., “New York–style”) to emphasize that both words of the compound noun are connected to the other word to form the compound adjective.

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using hyphens and compound words correctly.

What punctuation is used when creating compound adjectives?

Hyphens are typically used in compound adjectives to ensure clarity (e.g., “client-centered approach” or “budget-friendly accommodations”). Compound adjectives that follow the noun they modify usually don’t require hyphens (e.g., “an approach that is client centered,” “accommodations that are budget friendly”).