PREFIXES
What is a Prefix?
A prefix is an attachment before or in front of an
existing word or stem, serving to form a new word or
new meaning.
 New meaning example:
“un-” makes a happy person sad (unhappy)
 New word example:
“pre-” means before
“fix” means to reconstruct or attach
pre + fix = prefix (attach before, constructs new)
 Most prefixes have Greek or Latin origins
Common Prefixes
(Not a complete list)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
a-/an-
lacking in, lack of
asexual, anaerobic
anti-
against
anti-war, antivirus
arch-
supreme, highest, worst
arch-rival, archangel
be-
equipped with, covered with,
beset with (pejorative or
facetious)
bedeviled, becalm,
bedazzle, bewitch
co-
joint, with, accompanying
co-worker, coordinator,
cooperation
counter-
against, in opposition to
counteract, counterpart
de-
reverse action, get rid of
de-escalate
dis-
not, opposite of
disloyal, disagree
dis-
reverse action, get rid of
disconnect, disinformation
ex-
former
ex-husband, ex-boss
Common Prefixes
(Not a complete list)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
fore-
before
forearm, forerunner
hyper-
extra specially, overly, highly
hyperactive, hyperthermia
in-/il-/im-/ir-
not, opposite of
inexact, irregular
inter-
between, among
interstate, interact
mal-
bad(ly)
malnourish
mid-
middle
midlife
mini-
small
minimart, miniature
mis-
wrong, astray
misinformation, misguide
out-
better, faster, longer, beyond
outreach, outcome
over-
too much
overreact, overact
pan-
all, worldwide
pandemic
Common Prefixes
(Not a complete list)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
post-
after
post-surgery, post-graduation
pre-
before
pre-election, pre-order
pro-
for, on the side of
pro-life
re-
again, back
rerun
self-
self
self-sufficient
sub-
under, lower than, less than,
beneath, lesser in rank
sub-zero
super-
over, above, more than, better
super-heated, superpower,
supernatural
trans-
across, from one place to
another
transcontinental
ultra-
beyond, extremely
ultraviolet, ultramagnetic
un-
not, opposite of
unnecessary, unequal
Common Prefixes
(Not a complete list)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
un-
reverse action, deprive of,
release from
undo, untie
under-
below, beneath, lower in
grade/dignity, lesser,
insufficient
underachieve, underground,
underpass
vice-
deputy
vice-president, vice-principal
with-
against
withstand
Classical Prefixes
(Not a complete list)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
ambi-
both
ambidextrous
ante-
before
antechamber
anti-
opposite
anti-anxiety
astro-
star
astronaut
auto-
self
autobiography, automatic
bi-
two
bicycle
bio-
life
biodegradable
circum-
around
circumnavigate
con-/com-/col-/cor-/co-
together or with
confederation, commingle,
colleague, correlation, cohabit
contra-
opposite
contradict
Classical Prefixes
(Not a complete list)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
cryo-
ice
cryogenics
crypto-
hidden, secret
cryptography
de-
down
depress
demi-
half
demigod
demo-
people
demography
di-
two
dichotomy
dis-, di-, dif-
apart
differ, dissect
down-
to make something lesser,
lower or worse
downgrade
du-/duo-
two
duet
epi-
up on top, at, close upon,
in addition
epidermis
Classical Prefixes
(Not a complete list)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
ex-
out of
export
extra-
outside
extracurricular
geo-
relating to the earth, or
its surface
geography
hetero-
different
heterosexual
hemi-
half
hemicerebral
homo-
same
homosexual, homosapien
hydro-
relating to water, or
using water
hydroelectricity
hypo-
under, below, low
hypothermia
idio-
individual, personal, unique
idiosyncrasy
in-
in, into
insert
Classical Prefixes
(Not a complete list)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
infra-
below, beneath
infrared
inter-
among, between
intercept
intra-
inside, within
intravenous
maxi-
very long, very large
maximum
mega-, megalo-
great, large
megastar, megamall
meta-
after, along with, beyond,
among, behind
metamorphosis
micro-
small
microbiology
mon(o)-
sole, only
monogamy
multi-
many
multi-syllabic
neo-
new
neo-Nazi
Classical Prefixes
(Not a complete list)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
non-
not
nonexistent
omni-
all
omnipotent, omnipresent
paleo-
old
paleontologist
para-
beside, beyond
parallel
ped-/pod-
foot
pedestrian, podiatrist
per-
through, completely,
wrongly, exceedingly
permeate, permanent
photo-
light
photography
poly-
many
polygamy
Classical Prefixes
(Not a complete list)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
post-
after
postpone
pre-
before
prevent
pro-
substitute, deputy
proconsul
pro-
before
proactive
proto-
first, original
prototype
pseudo-
false, imitation
pseudoscience
pyro-
fire
pyromaniac
quasi-
partly, almost, appearing to be
but not really
quasi-religious
retro-
backwards
retro-style
semi-
half
semicircle
Classical Prefixes
(Not a complete list)
Prefix
Meaning
Example
sub-, sup-
below, under
support
super-
above, over
supervisor
sur-
above, over
surreal, surrender
syn-, sy-, syl-, sym-
together, with
synthesis, symbol,
syllable, system
tele-
at a distance
television
trans-
across
transverse
tri-
three
tricycle
uni-
one
unicycle
up-
to make something greater,
higher, or better
upgrade