accessory
4 syllablesNo common root word
An extra thing that goes with something, such as a belt or a phone case.
“A scarf is a useful winter accessory.”
HomeWord endings-ory
EVERYDAY SUFFIXES · -ORY
Words ending
in -ory.
23 classroom words with their roots, meanings and example sentences.
CLASSROOM SELECTION
-ory words, A–Z.
advisory
4 syllablesadvise → advisory
Giving advice or a warning.
“Our school council has an advisory role: it gives the head teacher ideas.”
category
4 syllablesNo common root word
A group of things that are alike in some way.
“Put each animal into the right category.”
compulsory
4 syllablesNo common root word
Something you must do because it is a rule.
“Swimming lessons are compulsory in Year 4.”
contradictory
5 syllablescontradict → contradictory
Saying opposite things.
“The two stories were contradictory.”
directory
4 syllablesdirect → directory
A list of names, addresses or numbers in order.
“We found the shop in the town directory.”
dormitory
4 syllablesNo common root word
A large bedroom where many people sleep.
“The children slept in a dormitory on the school trip.”
explanatory
5 syllablesexplain → explanatory
Giving an explanation.
“Read the explanatory notes at the bottom of the page.”
factory
3 syllablesNo common root word
A building where things are made by machines.
“The car factory makes a hundred cars a day.”
glory
2 syllablesNo common root word
Great praise and fame.
“The team returned home in glory after winning the cup.”
history
3 syllablesNo common root word
The study of what happened in the past.
“In history we are learning about the Romans.”
introductory
5 syllablesintroduce → introductory
Coming at the start to introduce something.
“The book has a short introductory chapter.”
inventory
4 syllablesNo common root word
A list of all the things in a place.
“The shopkeeper made an inventory of everything on the shelves.”
laboratory
4 syllablesNo common root word
A room with equipment for doing science experiments.
“The scientists worked in a laboratory.”
memory
3 syllablesNo common root word
The ability to remember, or something you remember.
“I have a happy memory of my first day at the beach.”
migratory
4 syllablesmigrate → migratory
Moving from one place to another at certain times of year.
“Swallows are migratory birds.”
observatory
5 syllablesobserve → observatory
A building with a big telescope for looking at the stars and planets.
“We looked at the moon through the observatory's telescope.”
predatory
4 syllablespredator → predatory
Living by hunting and eating other animals.
“Sharks are predatory fish.”
sensory
3 syllablessense → sensory
To do with the senses, such as touch, sight and hearing.
“The museum has a sensory room full of lights and sounds.”
story
2 syllablesNo common root word
A tale about real or made-up events.
“Grandma told us a story about a dragon.”
territory
4 syllablesNo common root word
An area of land that belongs to a country, or that an animal guards as its own.
“A robin will defend its territory from other birds.”
theory
3 syllablesNo common root word
An idea that tries to explain something.
“Scientists tested the theory with an experiment.”
victory
3 syllablesNo common root word
Winning a game, battle or contest.
“The crowd cheered the team's victory.”
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Meanings and examples are written for this site and checked against Merriam-Webster (4 November 2026). Syllable counts come from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary and can vary with accent. Related endings: -ly words · -ment words · -ity words · -able words · -ness words · -less words · -ful words · -ous words · -ible words · -ing words · -er words · -est words · -al words · -ive words · -ize words · -ant words · -ent words · -ance words · -ence words · -ship words · -hood words · -dom words · -ish words · -cial words · -tial words · -or words · -ary words · -ery words. Make a worksheet from these words ↗ How we choose words ↗