What's the English Technique called when you change a word's word class?

Question

For example:

My table is accepting deals, so it's an acceptable.
My table is counting, so it's an accountable.

I understand these aren't very rewarding wordplay sentences but I want to know the technique, so it can be applied in better context for enjoyment.

Basically, acceptable is normally an adjective, but it's being used as a noun here.

"Acceptable" is not a noun nor is it being used like a noun in your example. — dubious, Mar 02 '24 at 17:17
I forgot to an 'an' - but more to the point do you have the answer? — troy, Mar 02 '24 at 17:21
Please update your question if the current one is not exactly what you mean. — dubious, Mar 02 '24 at 17:22
Your examples don't take into account the passive nature of such formations. That which can be delivered is "a deliverable". That which delivers is not a deliverable. — TimR, Mar 02 '24 at 17:39
Does this answer your question? Is there a term for the use of adjectives as nouns? Or in general any English terms for 'to change the part of speech of a word without applying modification?? ... — Edwin Ashworth, Mar 02 '24 at 19:02
Or Is there a term for creating a new meaning for an existing word? etc etc (conversion; zero derivation ...) — Edwin Ashworth, Mar 02 '24 at 19:05

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 02 '24 at 17:31

The technical term for this in linguistics is conversion. As Wikipedia explains:

In linguistics, conversion, also called zero derivation or null derivation, is a kind of word formation involving the creation of a word (of a new part of speech) from an existing word (of a different part of speech) without any change in form [...] For example, the noun green in golf (referring to a putting-green) is derived ultimately from the adjective green.

Please check for likely duplicates . – Edwin Ashworth Mar 02 '24 at 19:06 — Edwin Ashworth, Mar 02 '24 at 19:06

What's the English Technique called when you change a word's word class?

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