Here is a list of 350 common compound nouns. The list is sortable, editable, and printable. It can be displayed as normal text or in columns (up to 4).
Just for fun, we've added game of hangman, which selects a compound from this list as the secret word.
Table of Contents
Compound nouns are formed when two or more words are combined to create a single noun. These words can be combined in a variety of ways, such as through open spelling, closed spelling, and hyphenation. Learn more about compound nouns.
afterbirth, aftermath, aide-de-camp, aircraft, airfield, airline, airmail, airport, armchair, armpit, backache, background, backlash, backlog, back-pedaling/back-pedalling, backside, bandwagon, bankbook, banknote, barman, baseball, basketball, bathroom, battlefield, battleship, bedroom, bedspread, bedtime, billboard, birthday, blackbird, blackboard, blacklist, blood-test, bomb squad, booklet, bookshelf, bookworm, boyfriend, brainstorm, breakfast, briefcase, bulldog, bullfight, butterfly, by-product, bystander, carjacking, carpet, case study, catfish, chairman, cheapskate, check-in, checkup, chopstick, classmate, clockwork, clotheshorse, clothesline, coat-of-male, comeback, commander-in-chief, copycat, copyright, cornerstone, countdown, countryside, courthouse, courtyard, cowboy, crackdown, crossroad, cupboard, cutback, daredevil, daybreak, daydream, daytime, deadline, deadlock, death rate, deathtrap, dishwasher, dishwater, do-gooder, doorbell, doorstop, doorway, downfall, downpour, dragonfly, drawback, dressmaker, driveway, driving licence, drugstore, drumstick, dry-cleaning, eardrum, earphone, earring, earthworm, earwig, egghead, evergreen, eyeball, eyeglasses, eyelid, eyewitness, farmhouse, fatherhood, father-in-law, feedback, fingernail, fingerprint, firearm, firefly, firewood, fireworks, fishbowl, flash flood, floodlight, football, footnote, footprint, forecast, foretaste, forget-me-not, freeway, friendship, fruitcake, full moon, gatecrasher, gentleman, ghostwriter, go-between, godfather, goldfish, good-for-nothing, grand jury, grandfather, grandmother, grasshopper, greenhouse, guidebook, guideline, gunfire, gunpowder, haircut, hairdresser, half sister, hallway, handbag, handcuff, handmade, handshake, handwriting, hanger-on, headache, headlight, headquarters, heartbeat, high school, highway, homework, honeymoon, horsefly, horsepower, hot dog, houseboat, housework, ice cream, input, jellyfish, jigsaw, keyboard, kneecap, knight-errant, knight-templar, ladybug, landlady, leadership, leftovers, letterhead, lifespan, lighthouse, lipstick, living room, looker-on, lookout, loophole, lord-justice, lord-lieutenant, lovebird, mailbox, manhunt, man-of-war, mastermind, merry-go-round, middleman, moonlight, motorcycle, neighborhood/neighbourhood, network, newsletter, newspaper, nightclub, nightmare, no-brainer, notebook, onlooker, onset, outlook, output, overcoat, overdose, overseas, overthrow, overtime, painkiller, pancake, paperback, partnership, passer-by, passport, password, peanut butter, penknife, photocopy, pick-me-up, pickpocket, pigtail, plea-bargain, pocketknife, policeman, popcorn, post office, postman, printer cartridge, public speaking, quicksand, racehorse, railway, rainbow, raincoat, raindrops, rainfall, rattlesnake, real estate, redhead, ringworm, roadrunner, runway, saltwater, sandbags, sandcastle, saucepan, sawdust, screenplay, screwdriver, seafood, seashell, seashore, seaweed, self-defense/self-defence, shellfish, shock wave, shoplifter, shorthand, shotgun, sickbed, sideburns, sidekick, sidewalk, silkworm, skateboard, skullcap, skyscraper, slaughterhouse, sleepwalking, snowball, snowboard, snowfall, softball, software, songbird, soundtrack, spaceship, sportsman, spotlight, stalemate, starlight, stepchild, stopwatch, strawberry, stretcher-bearer, strongbox, suitcase, summertime, sunlight, sunshine, sunspot, sweet tooth, sweetheart, swimming pool, swordfish, tablespoon, take-off, teacup, teapot, teardrop, teaspoon, thunderstorm, timetable, toadstool, toolbox, toothpick, train-spotting, tugboat, tug-of-war, upturn, wardrobe, washing machine, watchdog, water tank, waterproof, weekend, wheelchair, windpipe, wiretap
Hangman is a classic word game. In this version, the hidden word is always a compound noun from this list. (Choose your first letter to start.) Show Instructions
