1,031 Words Ending in OR — The "One Who" Suffix
Spot the pattern: ACTOR acts, EDITOR edits, GOVERNOR governs, INSTRUCTOR instructs. The -OR suffix creates agent nouns — words for whoever or whatever performs an action — and English pulled this trick straight from Latin. But not every OR word follows that formula. COLOR, HONOR, FAVOR, HUMOR, MIRROR, and ARMOR are all common OR-enders that don't describe agents at all. That COLOR/COLOUR split between American and British English exists because Noah Webster deliberately stripped the U from dozens of -OUR words in his 1828 dictionary, arguing that simpler American spelling was a form of cultural independence.
For crossword solvers, OR endings are a cheat code. When the clue reads "one who" or "person that," the answer almost certainly ends in -OR (or -ER, the Germanic equivalent). "One who edits" = EDITOR. "One who acts" = ACTOR. "One who sculpts" = SCULPTOR. This mechanical relationship between clue phrasing and suffix makes OR words among the most predictable crossword entries — and that predictability is your friend. In Scrabble, ABHOR is a solid five-letter play worth 10 points using common tiles, and MAJOR deploys the 8-point J in a natural word that rarely gets challenged.
A useful strategy: learn the OR/TION pairs that come from the same Latin verbs. EDIT gives you both EDITOR and EDITION. DIRECT gives you DIRECTOR and DIRECTION. COLLECT produces COLLECTOR and COLLECTION. Knowing one hands you the other, which is why studying words ending in TION alongside this page doubles your return. Also see words ending in L and words ending in M for more Latin-derived endings. For high-value plays, words starting with J includes several words that pair with OR patterns.
FAQ
When does a word end in -OR versus -ER?
Words from Latin roots usually take -OR (ACTOR, PROFESSOR, GOVERNOR), while words from Old English or Germanic roots take -ER (TEACHER, WORKER, SINGER). A few words accept both spellings — ADVISOR and ADVISER are both valid. In crosswords, the clue's tone often hints at the suffix: formal or institutional clues lean toward -OR. For the related Latin suffix, see words ending in TION.
Is COLOR or COLOUR correct in Scrabble?
Both are valid. The TWL dictionary (used in North American tournaments) accepts COLOR, and SOWPODS (the international dictionary) accepts both COLOR and COLOUR. In Scrabble, COLOR is tactically better because it's one letter shorter, leaving more room on your rack. The same American/British split applies to HONOR/HONOUR and FAVOR/FAVOUR. For more about spelling variants in word games, see words ending in L where -FUL vs. -FULL creates similar confusion.
What OR words are most useful in crossword puzzles?
ACTOR, MAJOR, COLOR, HUMOR, LABOR, MOTOR, FAVOR, and MANOR are all six letters or fewer and appear constantly in grids. EDITOR, AUTHOR, and ANCHOR are popular seven-letter fills. Constructors favor these because O and R create smooth crossings with common letters. Pair this knowledge with words starting with E, which feeds OR words like EDITOR, ELEVATOR, EMPEROR, and EXECUTOR.
Two-Letter Words (1)
Three-Letter Words (8)
Four-Letter Words (5)
Five-Letter Words (52)
Six-Letter Words (84)
Seven-Letter Words (99)
Eight-Letter Words (186)
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Nine-Letter Words (220)
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Ten-Letter Words (152)
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Eleven-Letter Words (110)
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