What is the study of morphemes called?

The study of morphemes is known as morphology, which is the branch of linguistics that examines the structure and formation of words. Morphemes are the smallest units of meaning in a language, which can be either free morphemes, that can stand alone as words (like "cat" or "run"), or bound morphemes, which need to attach to other morphemes to convey meaning (like "un-" in "unhappy" or "-s" in "cats" to indicate plurality).

Understanding morphology is essential in comprehending how words are constructed and how their meanings can change with different morphemes. This area of study is vital for language development, helping students and language learners grasp how words are formed and how they function within sentences. It demonstrates the creative aspect of language, showcasing how new words can be generated through the combination of morphemes.