Ile

¹ American  

abbreviation

Biochemistry.

1. isoleucine.

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ile- ² American  

1. variant of ileo- before a vowel.

   ileac.

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-ile ³ American  

1. a suffix of adjectives expressing capability, susceptibility, liability, aptitude, etc..

   agile; docile; ductile; fragile; prehensile; volatile.

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-ile British  

suffix

1. indicating capability, liability, or a relationship with something

   agile

   fragile

   juvenile

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Usage

What does ile- mean? Ile- is a combining form used like a prefix representing the word ileum, the third and lowest division of the small intestine. It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology.Ile- ultimately comes from the Latin īlia, meaning “side of the body between hips and groin, guts.”Ile- is a variant of ileo-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.Want to know more? Read our Words That Use ileo- article.

Etymology

Origin of -ile

From the Latin word -ilis, -īlis

Example Sentences

She said she was now a "happy woman", having found love again in a new relationship as she rebuilt her life on the blustery French Atlantic island of Ile de Re.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

When it was built on the Ile de Sein at Brittany's western tip, the wall would have been on the shore-line – between the high and low tide marks.

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2025

Eventually, the crew makes land on Ile Saint-Hubert near French Guinea, where a genetic dinosaur laboratory was evacuated 17 years earlier.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2025

Ile d’Oleron is an island off the Atlantic coast of France.

From NewsForKids.net • Mar. 13, 2024

Bill asked in the taxi on our way down to the Ile Saint Louis.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway