Adjectival forms of words in English are usually formed by adding suitable suffixes to nouns and verbs. Independent adjectives are those which cannot be formed by adding suffixes. They stand out as separate entities and often come from the Greek and Latin roots that refer to the particular thing or field of study.

Adjectival forms of certain words may leave you wonder-struck. If you have ever been confused on receiving an invitation to a sacerdotal silver jubilee celebration, or if someone has ever made fun of you for your simian attitude, you may find the following list of independent adjectives interesting and useful.

Relating toAdjective
aardvarkedentate
aardwolfprotelid
abdomencoeliac
abdominal organssplanchnic
actionpractical
actorhistrionic
agriculturegeoponic
alligatoreusuchian
almondamygdalate
American king crabxiphosuran
amideamic
ancestor worshipfiliopietistic
anchovyengraulid
animal diseaseveterinary
ankletarsal
antformic
antelopebubaline
apesimian
aphorismgnomic
appetiteorectic
applemalic
archerytoxophilitic
armbrachial
armadillotolypeutine
armed shipnaval
armpitalar, axillary
armymilitary
ashcinerary
assasinine
astrologychaldean
athletic contestagonistic
atmosphere pressurebaric
aukalci(di)ne
authorauctorial
baby (newborn)neonatal
backdorsal, tergal
backbonespinal
back of skulloccipital
badgermustelid
bananamusaceous
bank (river)riparian
barbertonsorial
bark (of tree)cortical
barleyhordeaceous
barnaclebalanid
barracudaperesocine
batnoctilionine, pteropine
bathingbalneal
bearursine
beastbestial
beeapian
beercervisial
beetle .coleopteral
beliefdoxatic
bellyalvine, ventral, coeliac
biblical interpretationhermeneutic
bilecholic
binocular visionorthopotic
birdavian, ornithic
birthnatal
birthdaynatalitial, genethliac
bishopepiscopal
bisonbisontine
blackbirdicterine
black magicgoetic
Black SeaPontic
bloodhaematic
blood vesselarterial, haemal
bluebirdturdine
boa constrictorboid
bobolinkicterine
bodycorporal, physical, somatic
body movementgestic
boneosteal
bone of hind limbfibular
boxingfistic, pugilistic
braceletarmillary
braincerebral
branfrufuraceous
branchramal
breakfastjentacular
breastmammary, pectoral
breast (large)macromastic
breast-bonesternal
bridgepotine
bristlesetal
brotherfraternal ,
brownish / greyish colorfuscous
buildingtectonic
bulltaurine
bumblebeebombid
businesspragmatic
butchercarnificial
butterbutyric
butterflylepidopterous
buttocksnatal
buzzardbuteonine
calfvituline
calf of legsural
Cambridge UniversityCantabrigian
care of hairphilocomal
carpcyprine
cashew nutanacardic
catfeline
catfishsilurid
cattlebovine
cavespelean
cave-dwellingtroglodytic
central pointfocal
centre of gravitycentrobaric
chalkcretaceous
chamoisruficaprine
cheekbuccal, genal, malar
cheekbonejugal
chestpectoral
chickengallinaceous
chickenpoxvaricellous
childfilial
childbirthpuerperal
chimpanzeesimiid
chingenial, mental
chocolatetheobromic
churchecclesiastical
circumlocutionperiphrastic
citizencivic, civil
cityurban
city (very large!megalopolitan
civetviverrine
clangentile
claybolar
climbingscansorial
clothesvestiary
coat of armsarmorial
cocotheobromic
coinnumismatic
collar-boneclavicular
colourchromatic
common peopleplebeian
cootfulciline
coppercupreous
copyingimitational
copyistclerical
cornfrumentarious
correct pronunciationorthoepic
coughtussive
countryrural, rustic
cowbovine, vaccine
crampmyalgic
cranealectoridine, coronal
crowcorvine
crowncoronary
cuckoocuculine
dancingorchestic, terpsichorean
dandruffscurfy
daughterfilial
dawneoan
daydiurnal
deacondiaconal
dead tissuenecrotic
deandecanal
deathlethal, mortal, mortuary
death (time after)posthumous, postobit
decimal systemdecadic
deep seabathybic
deercapreoline, cervine
deserteremic, xeric
desireorectic
devildiabolic
dewroral, roric
diaphramphrenic
digestionpeptic
digestion (good)eupeptic
digestion (slow)bradypeptic
diggingfodient
dinnerprandial
dinosaurdiapsidian
discipleapostolic
diseasemorbid, pathological
dizzinessdinic
dododidine
dogcanine
dog days of July and Augustcanicular
dolphindelphine, delphinine
domestic fowlgalline
dormousemyoxine
dovecolumbine
dowrydotal
dragondraconic
dragonflylibellulid
dramathespian
dresssartorial
drumtympanic
duckanatine
dukeducal
dungstercoraceous
dunghillsterquilinian
dutydeontic
dwarfhomuncular
dyeingtinctorial
eagleaccipitrine, aquiline
earaural, otic
eardrumtympanal
early manpalaeanthropic
earthtellurian, terrestrial
earthenwareceramic, figuline
earthquakeseismal, seismic
earthwormlumbricine
earwigforficulid
Easterpaschal
edible mushroomagaric
edible plantvegetal
eider duckfuliguline
eightoctonary
elbowulnar
elephantpachydermic
elkcervine
elmulmaceous
emeraldsmaragdine
emperorimperial
emuratite
enemyinimical
engravingglyptic
eveningvespertine
excessive thirstanadipsic
exercise for bodily developmentgymnastic
exchangecatallactic
eyeocular, ophthalmic
eye (one)monocular
eyes (both)binocular
eye (of bean)hilar
eyelidpalpebral
faknundinal
fairyelfin
falconraptorial
farewellapopemptic
farmingagrarian/ agricultural
fartingcarminative
fast daymaigre
fatadipic, adipose
fatherpaternal
feastfestal
fermentationzymotic
feverfebrile, pyretic
fieldagrestic
finchfringilline
fine literaturebelletristic
fingerdigital
fireigneous
fireflylampyrid
first ageprimeval
fishichthic, piscine
fishingpiscatorial, piscatory
flagvexillary
flamingophoenicopteroid
flat countrychampaign
fleapulicine
fleshcarnal, sarcous
flooddiluvial, diluvian
flourfarinaceous
flockgregarious
floggingbaculine
flowerfloral
foodalimentary, cibarious
food plantsvegetal
footpedestrial, podal
forearmcubital
foreheadfrontal, metopic
forestsilvan
fortune-tellingmantic
foxvulpine
frogranine
funeralfunebrial
fungal infectionmycotic
fungusagaric
gallfellic, fellinic
gallowspatibulary
gardenhortensial
garlicalliaceous
gartersnakecolubrine
gem-carvingglyptic
genital organvenereal
genusgeneric
gibbonhylobatine
giraffeartiodactylous
glassvitric
gluecolletic
goatcaprine, hiricine
Goddivine
goldauric
goldfishcyprinid
gooseanserine
gorillapongid
gourdcucurbitaceous
goutpodagral
government by old mengerontocratic
government by majoritiesarithmocratic
government by the wealthyplutocratic
government by a woman or womengynaecocratic
governorgubernatorial
grandparentaval
grapeuval
grassgramineous, poaceous
grasshopperacridid
groininguinal
grousetetraonine
gulllari(di)ne
gumgingival, uletic
haircrinal, pilar
hallaularian
hamstercricetine
handmanual
handwritinggraphic
hangingpatibulary
hareleporine
hartebeestbubaline
hawkaccipitrine
headcephalic
headachecephalagic
hearingacoustic, auditory
heartcardiac
heartbeatsystaltic
heatcalorific, thermal
heat lossthermolytic
heavencelestial
HebrewHebraic
hedgehogerinaceous
hellinfernal
hermit crabpagurian
herongrallatorial
herringclupeoid
high pressurehyperbaric
hipsciatic
hogsuilline
holidayferial
homesicknessnostalgic
horsecaballine, eqine, hippic
hospitality .xenial
hourhoral
housedomal, domestic
houseflymuscid
hummingbirdtrochilidine, trochiline
hump-back whalemegapterine
huntingvenatic
husbandmarital
ibisibidine
iceglacial
Indian swamp deerrucervine
inflammationphlogistic
insectentomic
insomniaagrypnotic
intellectnoetic
intestinal wormheliminthic
intestineenteral, enteric
ironferrous
islandinsular
ivoryeburnean
ivyhederaceous
jawgnathic
jaygarruline
jellyfishdiscophoran
Jesusdominical
jewJudaic
jointarticular
journeyviatic, viatal
judgejudicial, judiciary
JupiterJovian
kakanestorine
kangaroomacropine, macropodine
kidneyrenal, nephritic
kingregal
kingfisherdacelonine
kissingbasial, oscular
kitchenculinary
kitchen gardenolitory
kite (bird)milvine
kneegenual
kneepanpatellar
knowledgeepistemic, gnostic
lack of will powerabulic
lakelacustrine
lamplucernal
lampreycyclostome
landagrarian, praedial
languagelinguistic
laughtergelastic
lawlegal
law courtforaneous
layerstratal
layer of irisuveal
leaffoliar
leafbudgemmaceous
leap-yearbissextile
leechhirudine
legcrural
left sidesinistral
Lentquadragesimal
leopardpardine
letterepistolarian
lifevital, zoetic, biotic
lightphotic
lionleonine
liplabial
liverhepatic, jecoral
liver and stomachhepatogastric
living organismbiotic
lizardlacertine
lobsterhomarine
laical reasoningdianoetic
long durationdiuturnal
lousepedicular
loveerotic
lungpneumonic, pulmonary
lying downdecubital
lynxlyncine
lyric poemodic
macawpsittacine
mackeralscombroid
magic or magiciansthaumaturgic
magpiecorvoid
mailpostal
manhominine
mapleaceric
marblemarmoreal
marketnundinal
marlinistiophorid
marmosetcallithricid
marmotsciurid
marriagemarital, matrimonial
marriage-bedthoral
marshpaludal
martinhirundine
mayapplepodophylic
meadowlarkicterine
mealprandial
meaning of wordssemantic
measlesmorbilious
measuremensural
measurementmetrical
mechanicbanausik
medalnumismatic
medicineiatric
mensesmenstrual
mental diseasepsychopathic
merchantmercantile
metrical linestichic
midwiferyobstetric
milklacteal
mindmental
minnowcyprinid
minkmusteline
minorcatoptric
miteacarine
mockingbirdmimine
Modern GreekRomaic
moletalpine
molluscmalacozoic;
moneymonetary, pecuniary
money-makingchrematistic
mongooseherpestine
monkeysimian
moonlunar, selenic
moosealcine
morningmatutinal
mosquitoanopheline, culicine
motharctian
mothermaternal
mountainmontane
mousemurine
mouthoral
municipalitycivic
musclesarcous
musical dramaoperatic
musical soundtonal
musk deermoschine
musk oxovibovine
muskratcricetid
mustardsinapic
nail (of finger)ungual
nameonomastic
nape of necknuchal
neckcervical, jugular
nephewnepotal
nerveneural
nestnidamental
nightnocturnal
nightingalephilomelian
nitrogenazotic
normal visionorthoscopic
north windboreal
nosenasal, rhinal
nostrilnarine
nounnominal
numbernumerical
nuthatchsittine
nutritiontrophic
oakquercine
oatsavenaceous
oceanpelagic
oceandepth bathyal
oiloleic
old agesenile, gerontic
onioncepaceous
operationsurgical
opiniondoxastic
opossumdidelphine
origingenetic
origin and development of diseasespathogenic
origin or birth of thingsgenetic
ostrichstrulhious
otterlutrine
owlstrigine
oxtaurine
Oxford UniversityOxonian
oxygen deficiencyhypoxic
oysterostracine
painlessnessapenic
pairdyadic
palm (of hand)volar
parishparochial
parrotpstittacine
partrk%eperdicine
peacockpavonine
peanutarachidic
pearlmargaric
pedestalacroterial
pelicanpelecanid
petalcorollaceous
pheasantphasianine
physicianiatric
picturepictorial
pigporcine
pigeoncolumbine, peristeronic
pineappleanonaceous
pitchpiceous
plagueluetic
plastic surgeryanaplastic
platypusmonotremal
play or gameludic
pleasurehedonic
pleasure of the sensessensual
plovercharadrine
poetrymelic
popepapal
porcupinehystricine
porpoisephocaenine
potteryceramic, fictile
preachingpredicatory
priesthieratic, sacerdotal
prisoncarceral
profound learningacroatic
prolonged adolescenceneoteinic
pronounpronominal
prophecymantic
prophetvatic
pubertyhebetic
pulsesphygmic
public executionercarnificial
public prayerliturgic
public treasuryfiscal
puffinalci(di)ne
punishingpenal, punitive
punningparonomastic
puspurulent
quailgallinaceous
queenregal
quicksandsyrtic
rabbitlapine
raccoonprocyonine
raceethnic
rail (bird)alectoridine, ralline
rainhyetal, pluvial
ratmurine
rattlesnakecrotaline
ravencorvoid
reflectioncatoptric
reignregnal
reindeerrangiferine
retaliationtalionic
rhinocerosceratorhine
ribcostal
ricketsrachitic
right handdexter
ringannular
riverfluvial
river bankriparian
roadviatic, viatical
robinturdine
rocksaxatile
rodbaculine
roecapreoline
roof of mouthpalatal
rootradical
ropefunicular
roundwormnematoid
royal courtaulic
royal palacepalatine
rush (plant)juncaceous
sablezibeline
salivasialic
saltsaline
sandpipertringine
sceneryscenic
scorpionpedipalpous
seamarine, maritime, thalassic
seagulllaroid
sea horsehippocampine
sealphocine
seashoreorarian
seedseminal
seeingvisual
sermonhomiletic
sharkcarcharinid
sheepovine
shelltestaceous
shepherdbucolic, pastoral
sheriffshrieval
shinbonecnemial
shipnautical
shorelittoral
shoulderhumeral
shrewsoricine
shrimpmacruran
sidelateral
siegeobsidional
sightoptic, visual
silksericate
silkwormbombycine
silverargentine
sistersororal
sixsenary
sixtysexagesimal
skincutaneous, dermic
skullcranial
skunkmephitine
skycelestial
skylarkalaudine
Sleep-walker or sleep-walkingsomnambulistic
slothxenarthral
sluglimaceous
smallpoxvariolar
smellingolfactory
snakeanguine, ophidian
snownival
soft palatevelar
soiledaphic
soldiermilitary
sole of footvolar
sonfilial
songmelic
songbirdoscine, passerine
sooty colourfuliginous
soundacoustic
sound wavessonic
spacespatial
sparrowpasserine
speechphernic, vocal
speech soundphonemic
spiderarachnid
spoils of warmanublary
spongeporiferal
springvernal
squarequadratic
squirrelsciurine
stamen with pollenantheral
stamp collectionphilatelic
starsidereal, stellar
starchamylaceous
starfishasteroidean
stemcauline
stomachgastric
storkciconine
strawstramineous
stringed instrumentsfidicinal
sugarsaccharic
summaryepitomic
summeraestival, estival
sunsolar, heliacal
sundialsciatheric
surnamecognominal
swallowhirundine, sturnine
swallowingdeglutitious
swancygnine
swimmingnatatorial
swineporcine, suoid
symbolsemiotic
symptomsemeiotic
tablemensal
tailcaudal
tailorsartorial
tarantulatheraphosid
taste (sense of)gustatory
tearlachrymal
tendenary
thighfemoral
thoughtdianoetic
thousandmillenarian, millenary
threadfilar
throatguttural
thrushturdine
tickacarian
tiletegular
tinstannic
tissuehistic
toadbatrachian
tobacconicotian
todayhodiernal
toedactylic
tongueglossal
toothdental
toothacheodontalgic
tooth-socketalveolar
tortoisechelonian
touchhaptic, tactile
townurban
trademercantile
travelviatic
treearboreal
tree pruningtopiary
trouttruttaceous
turfcespitose
turkeymeleagrine
turtlechelonian
twelveduodecimal
twentyicosian, vigesimal
twigvimineous
twilightcrepuscular
twodual
ulcerhelcoid
uncleavuncular
under side of tongueranine
universecosmic
urineuretic
use of new wordsneologistic
vampire batdesmodontid
vegetarian dietmacrobiotic
veinvenous
VenusCytherean
verse linecatalectic
vesselvascular
viceroyviceregal
vinegaracetic
visionoptical
vocabularylexical
voicephonetic, vocal
volcanovulcanian
vowvotive
vulturecathartine
wading birdgrallatorial
wagonplaustral
walkingpedestrian
wallparietal, mural
walrusobenid
warmartial
waspvespine
wateraquatic
water powerhydrodynamic
waxceral
wax-modellingceroplastic
weaselmusteline
weavingtextile, textorial
webretiary
weevilcurculionid
weightbaric
Welsh (land or people)Cymric
whalecetacean
wheatfrumentacious
wheelrotal
widowvidual
wifeuxorial
wild beastferine
willowsalicaceous
windaeolian
winevinous
wingalary
winterbrumal, hiemal, hibernal
wolflupine
wombuterine
woodligneous, nemoral
woodpeckerpicine
wordverbal, lexical
worldterrestial
wormvermicular
wormwoodabsinthic
woundtraumatic
writinggraphic
yawningoscitant
yearannual
yesterdayhesternal
yolk of eggvitelline
young foxvulpecular
zebrahippotigrine, zebrine

Making Adjectival Forms by Adding Suffixes

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