appendixes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical (Medical)
Quick answer
What does “appendixes” mean?
A plural form referring to either supplementary sections at the end of a book/document, or to the plural of the worm-shaped organ attached to the large intestine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A plural form referring to either supplementary sections at the end of a book/document, or to the plural of the worm-shaped organ attached to the large intestine.
In academic/professional contexts, can also refer to added parts or subordinate elements attached to a main body of work, equipment, or system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling is the same. In BrE, "appendices" is the dominant plural for documents; "appendixes" is rare but acceptable. In AmE, "appendixes" is more common for both senses, though "appendices" remains frequent for documents.
Connotations
Using "appendixes" for documents in BrE may sound non-standard or overly technical. In AmE, it carries no such connotation. For anatomy, "appendixes" is standard in both varieties.
Frequency
Overall, "appendices" is more frequent in published English for the document sense. "Appendixes" has higher relative frequency in American English and in medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “appendixes” in a Sentence
The [document] includes [number] appendixes.Refer to appendixes [letter/number] for [details].The surgeon removed three inflamed appendixes.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in formal reports: 'The financial projections are in the appendixes.'
Academic
Common in dissertations, theses, and research papers to refer to supplementary data, questionnaires, or raw results.
Everyday
Very rare. In everyday talk, people would say 'appendix' or refer to 'the extra bits at the back.'
Technical
Standard in medical literature/surgery to refer to multiple instances of the organ: 'The study compared laparoscopic removal of appendixes.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “appendixes”
- Using 'appendixes' in a British academic paper (prefer 'appendices').
- Misspelling as 'appendiceses' or 'appendix's'.
- Failing to capitalize when referring to specific ones: 'See appendixes a and b' (should be 'Appendixes A and B').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct plurals of 'appendix.' 'Appendices' is traditionally preferred, especially in British English, for the supplementary document sense. 'Appendixes' is more common in American English and is the standard plural in medical/anatomical contexts.
No, it is a fully accepted plural form. Some style guides (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style) recommend 'appendices' for books/documents, but 'appendixes' is not an error.
You should check your department's style guide. Most academic style guides (APA, MLA, Harvard) recommend 'appendices' for scholarly writing. Using 'appendixes' might be marked as a stylistic infelicity, though not factually wrong.
It is pronounced /əˈpɛndɪksɪz/ (uh-PEN-dik-siz), with the stress on the second syllable, just like the singular, with an added '-siz' sound at the end.
A plural form referring to either supplementary sections at the end of a book/document, or to the plural of the worm-shaped organ attached to the large intestine.
Appendixes is usually formal, academic, technical (medical) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this plural form]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'EX' at the end of 'appendixES' can stand for 'EXtra Sections' - which is what they are.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN APPENDIX IS AN ATTACHMENT (to a document or an organ).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the plural form 'appendixes' MOST standard and uncontroversial?