English Explanatory Dictionary

-gate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

suffix
  1. Combined with a relevant place, person, activity, etc. to form the names of scandals.
noun
  1. A scandal.
suffix
  1. Used to form place names.

Pronunciation

/-ɡeɪt/ /-ɡət/

Word forms

-gate -gates

Etymology

Etymology tree English Watergatebf. English -gate Back-formation from Watergate, an American political scandal from 1972–1974 which led to resignation of president Richard Nixon. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the suffix first appeared in a 1973 article in the National Lampoon magazine which referenced a rumoured "Volgagate". The suffix was promoted by New York Times columnist William Safire, who coined several -gate words beginning in 1974.

Related words

-ghazi

Derived words

Aldgate Billingsgate Bishopsgate Cripplegate Dowgate Highgate Ludgate Margate Moorgate Newgate Ramsgate Reigate Sandgate Southgate Westgate
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