Association of British Scrabble Players

Study > Unexpected Plurals


This is a list of plural forms or apparent plural forms that may be unexpected, in that the singular or apparent singular seems to be a grammatical form that would not normally pluralise. Where no explanation is given, it can be assumed that this is a case of an adjective being used as a noun e.g. WICKEDS. Note that the list does not include plurals of participles: some -ING words take -S, some don't, so really the only surprising thing about them is how often one guesses wrong. I make an exception for a few -INGS like MIDDLINGS that have quite different meanings from the participle.


abjects ABJECT can be a verb meaning to throw away
ables ABLE can be a verb meaning to enable
abnormals
abouts an old form of ABOUT
abroads ABROAD can be a noun, a place abroad
abrupts ABRUPT can be a noun, an abyss
absolutes
absurds ABSURD can be a noun, an absurd thing
accidentals ACCIDENTAL can be a noun, a musical note
actuals ACTUAL can be a noun, a commercial commodity that can be bought and sold
afars AFAR can be a noun, a great distances
allergics ALLERGIC can be a noun, one who suffers from allergies
ambients
amids AMID can be a noun, a type of chemical compound
ancestrals ANCESTRAL can be a noun, a type of relation in logic
ancestrals ANCESTRAL can be a noun, a type of relation in logic
ancients ANCIENT can be a noun, an old person
ands AND can be a noun, an ampersand
annulars ANNULAR can be a noun, the ring finger
ans as in the phrase 'ifs and ans'
anyones
anyways just an alternative form of ANYWAY
anywheres
apts APT can be a verb, to fit
apparents APPARENT can be a noun, an heir
aquatics AQUATIC can be a noun, an organism living in or near water
arables ARABLE can be a noun, ploughed land
arctics ARCTIC can be a noun, a waterproof overshoe
ares ARE can be a noun, a metric measure of area
aromatics AROMATIC can be a noun, a sweet-smelling substance
asocials ASKANCE can be a verb, to turn aside
asocials ASOCIAL can be a noun, one without social organisation
assureds ASSURED can be a noun, somone who is assured (insured)
astrals ASTRAL can be a noun, a type of oil-lamp
ates ATE can be a noun, reckless ambition
audibles AUDIBLE can be a verb, to shout out a game plan in coded form in American football
awols AWOL can be a noun, one absnet iwhtout leave
bads BAD can be a noun, a bad thing
barrens BARREN can be a noun, a barren area of land
belows BELOW can be a noun, a lower place
bendy BENDY can be a noun, a kind of okra, that takes -S
bestials BESTIAL can be a noun, a cow or ox
betrotheds
betweens BETWEEN can be a noun, an intermediate size of needle
beyonds BEYOND can be a noun, as in 'the great beyond'e
biannuals
biologics BIOLOGIC can be a noun, a biological product
bizarres BIZARRE can be a noun, a striped carnation
bolds BOLD can be a verb, to make (type) bold
boughts BOUGHT can be a noun, a coil or fold
bravers BRAVER can be a noun, one who braves
braws BRAWS are fine clothes
breds BRED as a noun means someone from a small remote place
bridals BRIDAL can be a noun, a wedding
brights BRIGHT can be a noun, a kind of tobacco
brisks BRISK can be a verb, to make brisk
brittles BRITTLE can be a verb, to make brittle
brokes BROKE can be a verb, to broker
burnables
bustiers BUSTIER can be a noun, a kind of strapless bra
buyables
cames CAME can be a noun, a lead rod for framing a pane in a leaded or stained glass window
cardiacs CARDIAC can be a noun, a cardiac patient
carnals CARNAL can be a verb, to act carnally
causals CAUSAL can be a noun, a word expressing a cause or reason
caustics CAUSTIC can be a noun, a caustic substance
cerebrals CEREBRAL can be a noun, a consonant, pronounced with the tongue-tip curled up towards the hard palate
chics
choses CHOSE can be a noun, French for thing
chronics CHRONIC can be a noun, a chronic invalid
civils CIVIL can be a noun, a civil company
classifieds referring to a section of ads in a paper
clericals CLERICALS means clerical garb
coloreds
coloureds
combineds
concises CONCISE can be a verb, to mutilate
concurrents
confusables
considerables
cookables
cosiers COSIER can be a noun, a cobbler
crossers CROSSER can be a noun, one who crosses
crudes CRUDE can be a noun, crude oil
cruels an old name for the disease scrofula
cubics CUBIC can be a noun, a cubic equation
cutes CUTES exists as the plural of CUTIS
danks DANK can be a noun, a damp place
dappers DAPPER can be a noun, one who daps (trails bait in angling)
decadents
deceaseds dead people
deers in the US, DEER can take an S
definites
delicates
departeds dead people
defuncts dead people
dentals DENTAL can be a noun, a dentally produced sound
desirables
dinkums
dismals DISMAL can be a noun, a swamp
disposables
dogmatics The science which treats of Christian doctrinal theology
dormants DORMANT can be a noun, a joist, a crossbeam
dorsals DORSAL can be a noun, a dorsal fin
doubtfuls
drabbers DRABBER can be a noun, one who associates with drabs (prostitutes)
drabs DRAB can be a noun, a prostitute
drastics DRASTIC can be a noun, a purgative
drinkables
drys DRY can be a noun, a political right-winger, and take -S
dugs DUG can be a noun, an animal's teat
durables
dynamics
eagers EAGER can be a noun, a river bore
earnests EARNEST can be a noun, a pledge
eclectics
ecstatics
edibles
educables
elevateds ELEVATED can be a noun, a kind of railroad
elfins ELFIN can be a noun, an elf
eligibles
emergents EMERGENT can be a noun, an effect produced by a combination of causes but unable to be seen as the sum of their individual effects
emphatics EMPHATIC can be a noun, a type of consonant used in Arabic
emptiers EMPTIER can be a noun, one who empties
erecters ERECTER is a noun (not a comparative!), one who erects
ergos ERGO can be a noun, an ergometer
erotics EROTIC can be a noun, a person who is particularly susceptible to sexual arousal
erratas ERRATA is really the plural of erratum, but erroneously taken as a singular
esculents
eternals ETERNAL can be a noun, something lasting forever
ethnics ETHNIC can be a noun, a member of a particular ethnos
eveners EVENER can be a noun, something that evens
everydays clothes suitable for everyday wear
evidents EVIDENT can be a noun, something that serves as evidence
exacters EXACTER can be a noun, one who exacts
exigents EXIGENT can be a noun
existents EXISTENT can be a noun, something that exists
exotics EXOTIC can be a noun, something from another part of the world
explicits EXPLICIT can be a noun, a conclusion
extincts EXTINCT can be a verb, to extinguish
fabs FAB can be a noun, a fabrication
faithfuls
faraways
fars FAR can be a verb, to remove to a distance
fasters FASTER can be a noun, one who fasts
feds federal agents
ferals FERAL can be a noun, a feral animal
feebles FEEBLE can be a verb, to make feeble
fews
fickles FICKLE can be a verb, to perplex
finers FINER can be a noun, one who fines
finests
finites FINITE can be a noun, a finite verb
firmers FIRMER can be a noun, a kind of tool
fiscals FISCAL can be a noun, a treasurer; a public prosecutor
flews FLEWS are the pendulous lips of bloodhounds
florals FLORAL can be a noun, a design featuring flowers
fluents FLUENT can be a noun, the variable quantity in fluxions
fonds FOND can be a verb, to dote
forevers FOREVER can be a noun, eternity
forlorns
formals FORMAL can be a noun, a social event that requires evening dress
forthrights
frails FRAIL can be a noun, a kind of basket
freers FREER can be a noun, one who frees
frenetics FRENETIC can be a noun, a frenzied person
freshers FRESHER can be a noun, a freshman
frontals FRONTAL can be a noun, a cloth hanging over the front of an altar
fros FRO can be a noun, an African-style haircut
frosteds FROSTED can be a drink
gauches from the verb GAUCH, to boast
gaunts GAUNT can be a verb, to yawn
generics
giftables
givens GIVEN can be a noun, something given
glacials GLACIAL can be a noun, a glacial period
glads GLAD can be a verb, to make glad
glibs GLIB can be a verb, to make glib
glums GLUM can be a noun, a sad feeling
globulars GLOBULAR can be a noun, a type of star cluster
goldens GOLDEN can be a verb, to become gold
gooses GOOSE can be a verb, to prod someone
gradables
graduals GRADUAL can be a noun, part of a religious mass
grands GRAND can be a noun, slang for a thousand pounds
greatests GREATEST can be a noun
greats GREAT can be a noun, a great person
grews GREW can be a verb, to cause to shudder
gruffs GRUFF can be a verb, to utter gruffly
gustables
habituals HABITUAL can be a noun, a habitual drug user
hads HAD can be a verb, to hold
haggards HAGGARD can be a noun, a hawk
halfs HALF can take S in the sense of half a pint
handsomes
haphazards
hards HARD can be a noun, a hard place or hardships
haves HAVE can be a noun, someone with possessions
havings HAVING can be a noun, someone with possessions
heards HEARD can be a noun, a herd
hectics HECTIC can be a noun, a fever
heps HEP can be a noun, a hip (berry)
heres singular in its own right, Latin for a heir
heros HERO can take -S rather than the usual -ES in the sense of a sandwich
hets HET can be a noun, a heterosexual
highs HIGH can be a verb, to make higher
hims HIM can be a noun, a male person
hithers HITHER can be a verb, to come hither
horribles
hotters HOTTER can be a verb, to vibrate, tremble
humblers HUMBLER can be a noun, one who humbles
humdrums
hygienics
ignorants
illegals ILLEGAL can be a noun, an illegal immigrant
illustrateds
immovables
immunes someone who, or something that, is immune
imperials IMPERIAL can be a noun, a member of an imperial family
impossibles
impotents
inanes INANE can be a noun, empty space
inaugurals INAUGURAL can be a noun, an inaugural address
incuts INCUT can be a noun, in rock climbing, an indent cut into the face of the rock which can be used as a handhold or foothold
indigents INDIGENT can be a noun, a needy person
inerts INERT can be a noun, something that lacks vital properties
inexperts INEXPERT can be a noun, one who is not an expert
inexpressibles
infames INFAME can be a verb, to make infamous
infinites
infirms INFIRM can be a verb, to make infirm
innominables
insolents
insolubles
insolvents
insulars INSULAR can be a noun, a native of an island
insureds
intendeds people one intends to marry
intolerants
intrusives
jolliers JOLLIER can be a noun, a joker
justs JUST can be a verb, to joust
justers JUSTER can be a noun, a jouster
knowns KNOWN can be a noun, something known
lacklustres
lacklusters
laics LAIC can be a noun, a lay person
laids LAID can be a verb, to load
lameds LAMED as a noun is a letter in the Hebrew alphabet
lanks LANK can be a verb, to make lank
larges LARGE can be a noun, an obsolete musical note
latents LATENT can be a noun, a fingerprint
laterals LATERAL can be a verb, to throw a sideways pass in football
leaners LEANER can be a noun, one who leans
legals LEGAL can be a noun, a member of the legal profession
lenients LENIENT can be a noun, an emollient
lests LEST can be a verb, to listen
lethals LETHAL can be a noun, a death-dealing genetic defect
limiteds limited companies
limpers LIMPER can be a noun, one who limps
linguals LNGUAL can be a noun, a sound produced using the tongue
literals LITERAL can be a noun
literates LITERATE can be a noun, a literate person
lithes LITHE can be a verb, to listen
lonesomes LONESOME can be a noun, as in on one's lonesome
longers LONGER can be a noun, one who longs
luggables LUGGABLE can be a noun, a computer portable with difficulty
lumbars LUMBAR can be a noun, the lower back
lunars LUNAR can be a noun, a lunar distance
lushers LUSHER can be a noun, an alcoholic
madders MADDER can be a noun, a dye-yielding plant
mads MAD can be a verb, to make mad
maladroits MALADROIT can be a noun, a clumsy person
malaperts MALAPERT can be a noun, an impludent person
malteds MALTED can be a drink
manques MANQUE can be a noun, a section of a roulette table
marginals MARGINAL can be a noun, anything in or on a margin
marrieds
massives MASSIVE can be a noun, a group, an association
maturers MATURER can be a noun, one who matures
meagres MEAGRE can be a noun, a kind of fish
meaners MEANER can be a noun, one who means
mediaevals
medievals
merries not from the adjective MERRIE, but from noun MERRY, a name for the wild cherry
mets MET can be a noun, meteorology
metallics METALLIC can be a noun, a thing of metal
middlings goods, esp flour, cotton, or minerals, which have been sorted according to quality into the second of three grades
minimals MINIMAL can be a noun, a term in mathematics
miserables
mitigants
modulars
moists MOIST can be a verb, to make moist
mopeds you just might miss the -S hook here!
monastics MONASTIC can be a noun, a member of a monastic order
mosts MOST can be a noun
moveables
munchables
municipals MUNICIPAL can be a noun, a type of bond
musts MUST can be a verb, to powder
mutuals
naifs NAIF can be a noun, a naif person
naives NAIVE can be a noun, a naive person
nasutes NASUTE can be a noun, a beaked white ant
naturals NATURAL can be a noun, a kind of musical note
neats NEAT can be a noun, cattle
needfuls NEEDFUL can be a noun, what is necessary
nescients
neurotics
newfangles
nexts NEXT can be a noun, the next thing or person
nocturnals NOCTURNAL can be a noun, a nocturnal creature
nominals NOMINAL can be a noun, a noun or phrase etc. standing as a noun
nonedibles
nones a form of church service
nonlocals
nonstops
nonwovens
normals NORMAL can be a noun, a normal value
northerns
noseys
nostalgics
notables
nows NOW can be a noun, the present time
nexts NEXT can be a noun, the next thing or person
obliques OBLIQUE can be a verb, to deviate from a straight line
observants OBSERVANT can be a noun, a person who observes a law, custom etc
obsoletes OBSOLETE can be a verb, to make obsolete
obliques OBLIQUE can be a verb, to deviate from a straight line
occults OCCULT can be a verb, to hide or make disappear
oculars OCULAR can be a noun, the eyepiece of an optical instrument
olds OLD can be a noun, an old person
onces ONCE can be a noun, one time
ongoings ONGOING can be a noun, a current event
opaques OPAQUE can be a verb, to make opaque
optionals OPTIONAL can be a noun, an optional exam subject
ovoidals OVOIDAL can be a noun, something egg-shaped
palmiers PALMIER can be a noun, a pastry shaped like a palm leaf
partials PARTIAL can be a noun, a partial tone in acoustics
pathetics The branch of knowledge that deals with human emotions
payables
peculiars PECULIAR can be a noun
pelvics PELVIC can be a noun, a bone of the pelvis
pences PENCE can be a singular
pents PENT can be a noun, a sloping roof
peptics a jocular term for the digestive organs
permanents PERMANENT can be a noun, a permanent employee
perpetuals PERPETUAL can be a noun, a kind of rose
perts PERT can be a noun, an impudent person
pertinents PERTINENT can be a noun, a minor property forming part of a heritable estate
petites PETITE can be a noun, a clothing size
physicals PHYSICAL can be a noun, a physical examination
pictorials PICTORIAL can be a noun, a pictorial representation
pineals PINEAL can be a noun, a pineal body or gland
pinkers PINKER can be a noun, a person who cuts or punches designs in cloth, leather, etc
platonics PLATONIC can be a noun, a platonic lover
plumpers PLUMPER can be a noun, a pad kept in the mouth to round the cheeks, used by actors
poeticals POETICAL can be a noun, a writer of poetry
polars POLAR can be a noun, a term in geometry
populars
postals POSTAL can be a noun, a postcard issued by the Post Office with a printed stamp
potables
potents POTENT can be a noun, a crutch with a crosspiece
possibles
prematures PREMATURE can be a noun, a premature baby
primmers PRIMMER can be a noun, a primer
probables
prodigals
proficients
profounds PROFOUND can be a noun, an ocean depth
profusers PROFUSER is a noun (not a comparative!), a spendthrift/TD>
prones PRONE can be a noun, a place in a church where intimations are given out
propers PROPER can be a noun, a service, psalm set apart for a particular day or occasion
pures PURE can be a verb, to refine
quieters QUIETER can be a noun, one who quiets
radials RADIAL can be a noun, a radial artery
radiants RADIANT can be a noun: a straight line from a point about which it is conceived to revolve
randoms
rangs RANG can be a noun, a row of lots along a road
ratables
rateables
rationals RATIONAL can be a noun, a rational number
raws RAW can be a noun, a sore place
reals REAL can be a noun, a unit of Brazilian currency
recessives RECESSIVE can be a noun, a type of gene
redders REDDER can be a noun, one who redds (tidies)
redos REDO can be a noun, a repeated action
reductives REDUCTIVE can be a noun, a reductive agent
regals REGAL can be a noun, a type of musical organ
regionals REGIONAL can be a noun, something that serves as a region
reliables
remades REMADE can be a noun, a thing eg a golf ball made again from reused materials
remarkables
remotes
renewables
repentants
residuals
resistants
resistents
resolutes
resonants
resultants
retentives
reusables
ribalds RIBALD can be a noun, a low-class menial
rigids RIGID can be a noun, a kind of airship
ripes RIPE can be a verb, to ransack
ripers RIPER can be a noun, one who ripes, ransacks
risibles
risques RISQUE can be a noun, obsolete for risk
rockiers ROCKIER can be a noun, a rock dove
rodes from the verb rode, referring to a woodcock's evening flight
rosiers ROSIER can be a noun, a rosebush
rottens ROTTEN can be a noun, a rat
rudes RUDE can be a noun, a rude boy
rurals
rusticals
sads SAD can be a verb, to express sadness
saids SAID can be a noun, a descendant of Mohammed's daughter Fatima
salines SALINE can be a noun, a salt; an effervescent laxative powder
salmons used when referring to different kinds of salmon
sames SAME can be a noun, an identical thing
sanes SANE can be a verb, to bless
sangs SANG can be a noun, a kind of Chinese mouth organ
sapients SAPIENT can be a noun, a wise person
sauciers SAUCIER can be a noun, a chef who makes sauce
scenics SCENIC can be a noun, something scenic
sciatics SCIATIC can be a noun, a sciatic nerve
seasonals
seculars SECULAR can be a noun, a layman
securers SECURER can be a noun, one who secures
seniles
sensibles SENSIBLE can be a noun, a leading note
sentients
sents SENT can be a verb, to scent
septics SEPTIC can be a noun, an agent producing sepsis
serenes SERENE can be a verb, to become clear
serviles
severals SEVERAL can be a noun, private land
sharpers SHARPER can be a noun, one who engages in sharp practice
shiers SHIER can be a noun, a horse that shies
shooks SHOOK can be a noun, a bundle of sheaves
shrills SHRILL can be a verb, to make a shrill sound
shyers SHYER can be a noun, a horse that shies
signifieds
silents SILENT can be a noun, a silent film
silkens SILKEN can be a verb, to make like silk
silvans SILVAN can be a noun, one who lives in a forest
simples SIMPLE can be a verb, to gather medicinal herbs
simplers SIMPLER can be a noun, one who gathers medicinal herbs
sleekers SLEEKER can be a noun, a kind of smoothing tool
slighters SLIGHTER can be a noun, one who slights
smalls SMALL can be a verb, to grow smaller
smoothers SMOOTHER can be a noun, a kind of smoothing tool
smugs SMUG can be a verb, to seize
snides SNIDE can be a verb, to fill or load
soddens SODDEN can be a verb, to make sodden
softs SOFT can be a verb, to soften
solds SOLD can be a noun, pay
somewhats
somewheres
sooners SOONER can be a noun, one who settles on government land before it is officially opened for settlement
southerns SOUTHERN can be a noun, a southerner
spelts SPELT can be a noun, a primitive strain of wheat
spinals SPINAL can be a noun, a spinal injection
splenetics SPLENETIC can be a noun, a bad-tempered person
sprangs SPRANG can be a noun, a weaving technique to form an openwork mesh
squarers SQUARER can be a noun, a quarrelsome person
stalwarts
starks STARK can be a verb, to stiffen
stanks STANK can be a verb, to dam
starkers colloquial for naked
steadiers STEADIER can be a noun, one who steadies
steepers STEEPER can be a noun, one who steeps
stillers STILLER can be a noun, one who distils
stoles STOLE can be a noun, something worn round the neck
storables
stranges STRANGE can be a noun, an unfamiliar thing
stratas STRATA is really the plural of stratum, but erroneously taken as a singular
strategics
stucks STUCK can be a noun, a sword thrust
stupids
stubborns STUBBORN can be a verb, to be stubborn
substantials
suburbans SUBURBAN can be a noun, a resident in the suburbs
suddens SUDDEN can be a noun, a sudden occurrence
sullens SULLEN can be a noun, a sullen mood
sunks SUNK can be a noun, a turf seat
supremes
sures SURE can be a verb, to equip with a sewer
swifters SWIFTER can be a noun, a rope used to tighten or keep a thing in place
swines
sylvans SYLVAN can be a noun, one who lives in a forest
symbolics The branch of knowledge that deals with symbols
systemics SYSTEMIC can be a noun, a systemic pesticide
talls TALL can be a noun, a clothing size
tangibles
tarriers TARRIER can be a noun, one who tarries
taxables
technicals TECHNICAL can be a noun, a technical worker
temporals TEMPORAL can be a noun, a bone or muscle in the temples
terribles
tetanics TETANIC can be a noun, a drug used to treat tetanus
thans THAN can be a noun, an old form of THEN
thematics
thees THEE can be a verb, to address as THEE
thens THEN can be a noun, a time when
theres
thicks THICK can be a verb, to thicken
thicksets THICKSET can be a noun, one of a thickset build
thoroughs THOROUGH can be a noun, a manmade channel; a drainage ditch.
thous THOU can be a verb, to address as THOU
tidiers TIDIER can be a noun, one who tidies
tirings clothes, trappings
titulars TITULAR can be a noun, one who holds a title
topicals TOPICAL can be a noun, a postage stamp forming part of a set or collection with designs connected with the same subject.
tores TORE can be a noun, a surface described by rotation of conic section about a line
torpids TORPID can be a noun, at Oxford, the second boat of a college
toxics TOXIC can be a noun, a poison
transients
tribals TRIBAL can be a noun, a member of a tribe
trites TRITE can be a noun, a string of a lyre
triumphals TRIUMPHAL can be a noun, a token of victory
trods TROD can be a noun, a path
tropicals
tubulars TUBULAR can be a noun, a completely enclosed bicycle tire.
unadepts
uncos
undecideds
underfoots UNDERFOOT can be a verb, to support
undos UNDO can be a noun, the action of undoing
unemployeds
unfairs UNFAIR can be a verb, to disfigure
uninsureds
uniques
unknowns UNKNOWN can be a noun, something not known
unleadeds
unlikes
unmarrieds
unsayables
unseens UNSEEN can be a noun, a passage of Latin to be translated
unwasheds nounal in 'the great unwashed'
usefuls USEFUL can be a noun, an odd-job man
vagues VAGUE can be a verb, to be vague
valiants
vasts VAST can be a noun, vastness
vendables
vendibles
venerables
vestals VESTAL can be a noun, one of the Roman patrician virgins consecrated to Vesta, goddess of the hearth
vibrants VIBRANT can be a noun, a voiced sound
violents VIOLENT can be a verb, to force
virals VIRAL can be a noun, a kind of sales promotion
visibles
visuals
volcanics VOLCANIC can be a noun, a volcanic rock
votives VOTIVE can be a noun, an offering
vulgars VULGAR can be a noun, the common people
wans WAN can be a verb, to make wan
washables
wasts WAST can be a noun, an old form of west
watchables
wearables
weirds WEIRD can be a noun, one's fate
wents WENT can be a noun, a way, a path
wetters WETTER can be a noun, one who wets
whats
whences
whens WHEN can be a noun, the time something happened
wheres
whys WHY can be a noun, a reason
wickeds
wilders WILDER can be a verb, to bewilder
wises WISE can be a verb, to guide in a certain direction
withins WITHIN can a noun, the inside
withouts WITHOUT can a noun, the outside
withs WITH can be a noun, a partition between chimney flues
wons WON can be a verb, to abide, dwell
woulds WOULD can be a noun, the desired, the intended
worses WORSE can be a verb, to worst
worsteds WORSTED as a noun is a type of cloth
wovens WOVEN as a noun means a woven material
wrongers WRONGER can be a noun, one who wrongs
yahs YAH can be a noun, an affected upper-class person
yonders YONDER can be a noun, the distance
yores YORE is a noun, though not really seen in the plural
youngers YOUNGER can be a noun
yous colloquial when addressing more than one person