Prefixes

A prefix is placed at the beginning of a word to modify or change its meaning. This is a list of
the most common prefixes in English, together with their basic meaning and some examples.
You can find more detail or precision for each prefix in any good dictionary. The origins of
words are extremely complicated. You should use this list as a guide only, to help you understand
possible meanings. But be very careful, because often what appears to be a prefix is not a prefix
at all. Note also that this list does not include elements like "auto-" or " bio-", because these are
"combining forms", not prefixes.
Prefix
a-

also ana-

a-

Meaning

Examples

not, without

atheist, anaemic

to, towards

aside, aback

in the process of, in a

particular state

a-hunting, aglow

of

anew

completely

abashed

ab-

also abs-

away, from

abdicate, abstract

ad-

also a-, ac-, af-,

ag- al-, an-, ap-,
at- as-, at-

movement to, change

into, addition or
increase

advance, adulterate, adjunct, ascend, affiliate,

affirm, aggravate, alleviate, annotate,
apprehend, arrive, assemble, attend

before, preceding

antecedent, ante-room

opposing, against, the

opposite

anti-aircraft, antibiotic, anticlimax, Antarctic

all over, all around

bespatter, beset

completely

bewitch, bemuse

having, covered with

bejewelled

affect with (added to

nouns)

befog

cause to be (added to
adjectives)

becalm

anteanti-

also antbe-

com-

also co-, col-,

con-, cor-

with, jointly,
completely

combat, codriver, collude, confide, corrode

contra-

against, opposite

contraceptive

counter-

opposition, opposite
direction

counter-attack, counteract

de-

down, away

descend, despair, depend, deduct

completely

denude, denigrate

removal, reversal

de-ice, decamp

dia-

also di-

through, across

diagonal

dis-

also di-

negation, removal,
expulsion

disadvantage, dismount, disbud, disbar

en-

also em-

put into or on

engulf, enmesh

bring into the condition

of

enlighten, embitter

intensification

entangle, enrage

out

exit, exclude, expand

upward

exalt, extol

completely

excruciate, exasperate

previous

ex-wife

extra-

outside, beyond

extracurricular

hemi-

half

hemisphere

hyper-

beyond, more than,

more than normal

hypersonic, hyperactive

hypo-

under

hypodermic, hypothermia

also il-, im-

not, without

infertile, inappropriate, impossible

also il-, im-, ir-

in, into, towards, inside

influence, influx, imbibe

ex-

in-

also e-, ef-

ob-

infra-

below

infrared, infrastructure

inter-

between, among

interact, interchange

intra-

inside, within

intramural, intravenous

non-

absence, negation

non-smoker, non-alcoholic

also oc-, of-,

op-

blocking, against,
concealing

obstruct, occult, offend, oppose

surpassing, exceeding

outperform

external, away from

outbuilding, outboard

excessively, completely

overconfident, overburdened, overjoyed

upper, outer, over,

above

overcoat, overcast

peri-

round, about

perimeter

post-

after in time or order

postpone

pre-

before in time, place,

order or importance

pre-adolescent, prelude, precondition

pro-

favouring, in support of

pro-African

acting for

proconsul

motion forwards or
away

propulsion

before in time, place or

order

prologue

re-

again

repaint, reappraise, reawake

semi-

half, partly

semicircle, semi-conscious

at a lower position

submarine, subsoil

lower in rank

sub-lieutenant

nearly, approximately

sub-tropical

out-

over-

sub-

also suc-, suf-,

sug-, sup-, sur-,
sus-

syn-

also symtrans-

in union, acting
together

synchronize, symmetry

across, beyond

transnational, transatlantic

into a different state

translate

beyond

ultraviolet, ultrasonic

extreme

ultramicroscopic

not

unacceptable, unreal, unhappy, unmanned

reversal or cancellation
of action or state

unplug, unmask

beneath, below

underarm, undercarriage

lower in rank

undersecretary

not enough

underdeveloped

ultra-

un-

under-

General Roots and Prefixes

Root or Prefix

Meaning

Examples

a, an

not, without

atheist, anarchy, anonymous

apathy, aphasia, anemia,
atypical, anesthesia

ab

away, down, from, of

absent, abduction, aberrant,

abstemious, abnormal, abstract,
absorb

acro

high, tip, top

acrobat, acrophobia, acronym,

acromegaly, acropolis

act

do, move

ad

to, toward

action, react, transaction,

proactive, activity, activation,
deactivate
admit, addition, advertisement,
adherent, admonish, address,

adhesive, adept, adjust

high

altitude, altimeter, alto,

contralto, altocumulus, exalt

to walk

ambulatory, amble, ambulance,

somnambulist, perambulate,
preamble

anima

soul, life

animation, inanimate, animal,

anime, equanimity, animism,
animus

ante

before

anteroom, antebellum, antedate

antecedent, antediluvian

anti, ant

against, opposite

antisocial, antiseptic, antithesis,

antibody, antichrist, antinomies,
antifreeze, antipathy, antigen,
antibiotic, antidote, antifungal,
antidepressant

arm

weapon

audi

to hear

audience, auditory, audible,

auditorium, audiovisual,
audition, audiobook

auto

self

automobile, automatic,
autograph, autonomous,
autoimmune, autopilot,
autobiography

be

thoroughly

bedecked, besmirch,
besprinkled, begrudge, begrime,
belie, bemoan

bell

war

alt

ambul

army, armament, disarm, rearm,

armistice, armor, armory, arms

belligerent, antebellum,
bellicose, rebel

bene

good, well

benefactor, beneficial,
benevolent, benediction,
beneficiary, benefit
bicycle, bifocals, biceps, billion,
binary, bivalve, bimonthly,
bigamy, bimetal, biathlete,
bicarbonate

bi

two

bio

life, living

biology, biography, biodiversity,

bioavailability, bioflavonoid,
biofuel, biohazard, biomass,
biorhythm

cede, ceed, cess

to go, to yield

succeed, proceed, precede,

recede, secession, exceed,
succession, excess

chron

time

chronology, chronic, chronicle,

chronometer, anachronism

cide, cis

to kill, to cut

fratricide, suicide, incision,

excision, circumcision, precise,
concise, precision, homicide,
genocide, regicide

circum

around

circumnavigate, circumflex,
circumstance, circumcision,
circumference, circumorbital,
circumlocution, circumvent,
circumscribe, circulatory

clud, clus claus

to close

include, exclude, clause,

claustrophobia, enclose,
exclusive, reclusive, conclude,
preclude

con, com

with, together

convene, compress,
contemporary, converge,
compact, confluence,
concatenate, conjoin, combine,
convert, compatible,

consequence, contract
contra, counter

against, opposite

contradict, counteract,
contravene, contrary,
counterspy, contrapuntal,
contraband, contraception,
contrast, controversy,
counterfeit, counterclaim,
counterargument, counterclaim,
counterpoint, counterrevolution

cred

to believe

credo, credible, credence, credit,

credential, credulity, incredulous,
creed, incredible

commun

to share

cycl

circle, wheel

-s, -es, -ies

-s
-ed
-en
-en
-ing
-er
-est
-n't
-ism
-ist
-ful
-able
-ation
-ness
-ment
-ify
-fy
-ity

commune, community,
communism, communicable,
communication, commonality,
incommunicado
bicycle, cyclical, cycle,
encliclical, motorcycle, tricycle,
cyclone

plural
3rd person singular present
past tense
past participle
plural (irregular)
progressive/continuous
comparative
superlative
negative (contraction)
forms a noun
noun
noun
adjective
noun
noun
noun
verb
adjective
noun

-ly
-ise, -ize

Suffix

adverb
verb

Meaning

Usage

able, ible

capable of
(adjective suffix)

portable - able to be carried

legible - able to be read

ac, ic

like, pertaining to

cardiac - pertaining to heart

aquatic - pertaining to water

acious, icious

full of

audacious - full of daring,

avaricious - full of greed

al

pertaining to

maniacal - insane
portal - doorway
logical - pertaining to logic

ant, ent

full of

eloquent - pertaining to fluid,

effective speech.
verdant - green

ary

like, connected with

dictionary - book connected

with words
honorary - connected with
honor

ate

to make
(verb suffix)

consecrate - to make holy

mitigate - make less severe

ation

that which is
(noun suffix)

irritation - that which is

irritated

cy

state of being
(noun suffix)

democracy - ruled by people

obstinacy - obstinate state,
stubbornness

eer, er, or

person who
(noun suffix)

mountaineer - person who

climbs mountains
teacher - one who teaches

advisor - person who advises

escent

becoming
(adjective suffix)

evanescent - tending to
vanish
pubescent - arriving at
puberty

fic

making, doing
(adjective suffix)

fantastic - arousing great

wonder
terrific - arousing great fear

fy

to make (verb suffix)

iferous

producing, bearing
(adjective suffix)

il, ile

pertaining to, capable of

(adjective suffix)

ism

doctrine, belief
(noun suffix)

ist

dealer, doer
(noun suffix)

ity

state of being
(noun suffix)

sagacity - state of being wise

ive

like (adjective suffix)

quantitative - concerned with

number or volume

ize, ise

to make
(verb suffix)

oid

resembling, like
(adjective suffix)

ovoid - like an egg

anthropoid - resembling a
human

ose

full of
(adjective suffix)

verbose - full of words

osis

condition (noun suffix)

magnify - to enlarge
petrify - turn to stone
pestiferous - carrying disease
vociferous - having a loud
voice
civil - polite
docile - easily taught or led
monotheism - belief in one
God
socialism - kind of governance
realist - one who is realistic
dentist - deals with teeth

harmonize - make harmonious

revolutionize - make
revolutionary

psychosis - diseased mental

condition
hypnosis - induced sleep

ous

full of (adjective suffix)

tude

state of (noun suffix)

nauseous - full of nausea

ludicrous - foolish
fortitude - state of strength
certitude - state of certainty