A prefix is a type of affix—a linguistic element that is added to a base word to create a modified version of that word. Unlike suffixes, which are attached to the end of a word, prefixes are affixed to the beginning. Prefixes can dramatically alter the meaning of a word, either by negating it, intensifying it, or indicating time, location, or direction. Understanding common prefixes can provide insights into the meanings of unfamiliar words and allow for better comprehension of complex texts.
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Define Prefixes.
A prefix is a group of letters that are added to the beginning of a stem word. Prefixes allow a single root word to have several meanings without the need to know a large number of vocabulary terms. Prefixes are letters that are added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning. Prefixes aid in the addition of meaning to words and the creation of new words that are universally understood.
Prefixes with Examples and Meaning
| Prefixes | Meaning | Examples |
| A (an) | without | atheist, anarchy |
| Eu | well | eulogy, eugenics |
| Epi | upon | epitaph |
| Hypo | under | hypocrite |
| Di | twice | dilemma |
| Con (col, com, cor) | together, with | contend, combine, correct |
| Ad (af, al, ag, as, a) | to | affect, allege, appoint, assign, avail |
| Dia | through | diameter |
| Mono | single, alone | monoplane, monopoly |
| Auto | self | Autocrat, autograph |
| Peri, round | Perimeter, period | periscope |
| Ex (ef, e) | out of | extract, effect |
| Ex (ec) | out of | eccentric |
| Bis, (bi, bin) | on both sides, twice | biscuit, binoculars |
| Amphi | on both sides, around | amphitheatre |
| Non | not | nonsense |
| In (il, im, ir) | not | insecure, imprudent |
| Philo (Phil) | love | philanthropy |
| Homo (hom) | like | homonym |
| In (il, im, ir, en, em) | Into, in | invade, immerse, enact, embrace |
| En (em) | in | emblem |
| Meta (met) | implying change | metaphor, metonymy |
| Hemi | half | hemisphere |
| Demi | half | demigod |
| Apo (ap) | from | apology |
| De, | down | descend, depose |
| Cata | down | cataract, catalogue |
| Arch (archi) | chief | archangel, architect |
| Para | by the side of, beside | parallel, parasite |
| Hyper | beyond, over | hypercritical |
| Extra | beyond, of, outside | extraordinary, extravagant |
| Ante (anti, an) | before | antedate, ancestor |
| Male (mal) | badly, ill | malevolent |
| Dys | badly | dysentery |
| Ana | back, up | anachronism |
| Ab, (a, abs) | away, from | abuse, abstract |
| Ambi (amb, am) | Around, on both sides | ambiguous, amputate |
| Circum (circu) | around | circumnavigate, circuit |
| Dis, (dif, di) | apart | Disjoin, divide |
| Inter (intro, enter) | among | intervene, entertain |
| Pan | all | panorama, pantheism |
| Contra (counter) | against | contradict, counterfeit |
| Anti (ant) | against | antagonist |
Prefixes | Images
Prefixes with Meaning and Examples
| Prefixes | Meaning | Examples |
| Im- | İn | Imbalance |
| con | with, jointly | concur |
| ex- | former, out of | ex-boyfriend |
| deca | ten | decathlon |
| en | to cause, provide | enable |
| hyper- | over, above | hyperactive |
| Em- | Cause to | Embrace |
| Fore- | Before | Forecast |
| ad | to, toward, near | Adjacent |
| a | not, without | abyss |
| ambi | both | Ambidextrous |
| ante | before | Antecedent |
| ante- | before | antenatal |
| counter | opposite | counterclockwise |
| co | with, together | coexist |
| anti- | against, opposing | antidepressant |
| arch | chief, most important | Archangel |
| co- | with | co-pilot |
| bene | good | benevolent |
| circum- | around | circumvent |
| a | at, in, on, to | asleep |
| bi | two, twice | Biannual |
| equi | equal | equidistant |
| ethno | race, nation | ethnography |
| En- | Cause to | Encode |
| di | two | divert |
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
| dia | through, across | diameter |
| de- | off, down, away from | defrost |
| contra | against | contradict |
| ab | from, away | Abnormal |
| be | about, become | befriend |
| il-, im-, in-, ir- | not | illegal |
| auto | self | automobile |
| dys | bad, abnormal | dysfunction |
| homo- | same | homonuclear |
| demi | half | Demigod |
| em-, en- | cause to, put into | encode |
| extra- | beyond, more than | extraordinary |
| at | to, toward | attend |
| endo | internal | endocrine |
Prefixes Examples | Images
What are the 20 examples of prefixes?
- In
Meaning: Not
Example: When Will Injustice End?
- Inter
Meaning: Between
Examples: What do I do after Intermediate?
- Over-
Meaning: Over
Example: we can overlook the sea from here.
- pre-
Meaning: before
Example: Un- is a productive prefix.
- therm-
Meaning: heat
Example: This thermometer is inaccurate.
- non-
Meaning: not, without
Example: They ask what nonsense this is.
- Sub-
Meaning: Under
Example: The subeditors prepare the reporters.
- semi-
Meaning: half
Example: The semi-final replay will be on Monday.
- mid-
Meaning: Middle
Example: The city is midway between London and Edinburgh.
- In-
Meaning: In
Example: Sprinkle the infield there.
- para-
Meaning: beside
Example: She is a qualified paramedic.
- macro-
Meaning: large
Example: Macroeconomics in Global Environment.
- sub-
Meaning: under
Example: It’s a huge submarine.
- mis-
Meaning: wrongly
Example: It is not easy to misinterpret these findings.
- post-
Meaning: after
Example: Is there a hyphen in post-mortem?
- im-, in-
Meaning: into
Example: Insert Image From File.
- Under–
Meaning: Under
Example: I understand what you mean.
- omni-
Meaning: all, every
Example: I am a failed omnivore.
- Un-
Meaning: Not
Example: Her tone is rather unfriendly.
- tri-
Meaning: three
Example: He drew a right triangle.
- re-
Meaning: again
Example: He didn’t return home.
- infra-
Meaning: beneath, below
Example: Go to infrared, people.
Must Try:
Prefixes Examples with Sentence| Images
