Words Starting With MAT
100 wordsMAT words form a compact but practical corner of the English lexicon. From everyday terms like MATH and MATE to specialized vocabulary like MATERIEL, this prefix delivers reliable options for word games and crossword puzzles alike.
3-letter words
14-letter words
45-letter words
106-letter words
137-letter words
108-letter words
159-letter words
1710-letter words
911-letter words
1012-letter words
313-letter words
614-letter words
115-letter words
1Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The MAT pattern offers some surprising strategic opportunities, particularly when Jewish culinary terms meet high-value tile placement.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
The MAT root appears in two distinct word families. One traces back to Latin 'matta' (a woven mat or covering), giving us MATTRESS and MAT itself. The other stems from Latin 'mater' (mother), spawning MATRIARCH, MATERNAL, and MATRILINEAL. This dual heritage means MAT words split between humble household objects and concepts of lineage and origin.
Total Words
158
0.1% of dictionary
Avg Length
9.0 letters
3.4 syllables
Top Scrabble
MATERIALIZATION
26 points
Longest Word
MATERIALISTICALLY
17 letters
Parts of Speech
With 67% nouns and 24% adjectives, MAT words lean heavily toward naming things and describing qualities. The 3.4 average syllables per word reflects the pattern's tendency toward longer, more formal vocabulary like MATERIALIZATION rather than punchy monosyllables.
Middle English dominates the MAT vocabulary, often as a gateway from older French and Latin sources. The word MATTRESS shows a particularly winding path: from Italian 'materasso' through Old French 'matras' into Middle English. Latin roots run deep here, with MAT itself tracing back through Old English to the Latin 'matta' for woven coverings.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
Medium (5-7)
brittle flat bread eaten at Passover
brittle flat bread eaten at Passover
Long (8+)
an appearance in bodily form (as of a disembodied spirit)
with respect to mathematics
mediation in order to bring about a marriage between others
Short (2-4)
a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
Medium (5-7)
brittle flat bread eaten at Passover
brittle flat bread eaten at Passover
Long (8+)
mediation in order to bring about a marriage between others
an appearance in bodily form (as of a disembodied spirit)
with respect to mathematics
The Passover bread words—MATZAH, MATZOH, and MATZOTH—score identically across both games at 20-21 points, making them reliable plays either way. For longer words, MATCHMAKING jumps from 25 points in Scrabble to 29 in WWF, gaining four extra points. The real strategic value here lies in these medium-length Z words, since finding legal Z placements often determines close games.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)
a pair of people who live together
a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement
an informal use of the Latin word for mother; sometimes used by British schoolboys or used facetiously
change texture so as to become matted and felt-like
Common Words (likely answers)
a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
a pair of people who live together
a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement
an informal use of the Latin word for mother; sometimes used by British schoolboys or used facetiously
MATES and MATER both test two vowels (A and E) while probing common consonants like T, R, and S. MATHS adds the useful H but sacrifices E, making MATES the more balanced opener for vowel coverage.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
Shortest
MAT itself stands alone as the pattern's only three-letter word, while compounds and suffixed forms like MATERIALIZATION stretch to 16-17 letters. The gap reflects how this simple root gets extended through Latin-derived affixes like -TION and -ISTIC.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
wood in small pieces or splinters
"the vessel was beaten to matchwood on the rocks"
equipment and supplies of a military force
characteristic of a matriarchy
MATERIEL refers to military equipment and supplies—distinct from personnel. It's borrowed directly from French and keeps the French spelling, which trips up many players who expect MATERIAL. Worth memorizing for both its unusual spelling and its validity in competitive word games.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.
More "MAT" Pages
Browse words by longer letter combinations starting with "MAT".