Definition & Meaning of "bound morpheme"

What is a "bound morpheme"?

A bound morpheme is a type of morpheme that cannot stand alone as a word and must be attached to a base word or root to convey meaning. Bound morphemes can be prefixes, suffixes, or infixes that modify the meaning of the base word. For example, in the word "unhappiness", the prefix "un-" and the suffix "-ness" are both bound morphemes that alter the meaning of the root word "happy". Bound morphemes are essential in word formation, allowing for the creation of new words and contributing to the complexity of language.