Ancient Greek word root · Time & Order

neo-: new

neo- is an Ancient Greek root meaning “new”. Learn its variants and explore 4 connected words.

Meaning and variants

Meaning: new

Root forms: neo-

Source word: νέος — young

Word family and examples

• neon

  The chemical element (symbol Ne) with an atomic number of 10. The second of the noble gases, it is a colourless, odorless inert gas.

• neodymium

  A chemical element (symbol Nd) with an atomic number of 60: a hard, slightly malleable silvery rare earth metal that quickly tarnishes in air and moisture.

• neophyte

  A beginner; a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief.

• neologism

  a newly coined word or expression

Root connections help with vocabulary recall. They are not a complete etymological history, and a spelling match alone does not prove a relationship.

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