-ory

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

-ory¹ ,suffix. 

1. -ory is attached to nouns and verbs that end in -e to form adjectives with the meaning "of or relating to (the noun or verb mentioned)'':
   excrete + -ory → excretory (= of or relating to excreting);
   sense + -ory → sensory (= of or relating to the senses).
2. -ory is also attached to certain roots to form adjectives with the meaning "providing or giving'':
   satisfact- + -ory → satisfactory (= giving satisfaction).

-ory² ,suffix. 

1. -ory is attached to roots to form nouns that refer to places or things that hold (the root), or places that are used for (the root):
   cremat- + -ory → crematory (= a place where bodies are cremated);
   observat(ion) + -ory → observatory (= place where observations of the heavens are made).

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

-ory ,

1. an adjective-forming suffix, joined to bases of Latin origin in imitation of borrowed Latin words containing the suffix -tory¹ (and its alternant -sory):
   excretory;
   sensory;
   statutory.

• Latin -ōrius, extracted from -tōrius -tory¹; see -or²
• Anglo-French; Old French -oire
• Middle English -orie

-ory¹ ,

1. a suffix forming nouns denoting places or receptacles, joined to bases of Latin origin in imitation of borrowed Latin words containing the suffix -tory² (or its alternant -sory):
   crematory.

• Latin -ōrium, extracted from -tōrium -tory²; see -ory¹, -or²
• Anglo-French; Old French -oire
• Middle English -orie

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

-ory suffix:forming_nouns

1. indicating a place for: observatory
2. something having a specified use: directory

Etymology: via Old French -orie, from Latin -ōrium, -ōria

-ory suffix:forming_adjectives

1. of or relating to; characterized by; having the effect of: contributory, promissory

Etymology: via Old French -orie, from Latin -ōrius