50+ Common Prefixes in English.

What is a Prefix?

A prefix is an affix which is placed before the stem of a word. Adding it to the beginning of one word changes it into another word. For example, when the prefix un- is added to the word happy, it creates the word unhappy. Particularly in the study of languages, a prefix is also called a preformative, because it alters the form of the words to which it is affixed.

The List Below Defines and Illustrated Some Common Prefixes


1. a, ab, abs
Meaning: Away from
Example: Absent , Abscond
2. ad, a, ac, af, ag, an, ar, at, as
  1. Meaning: To, toward
  2. Example: Adapt , Adhere , Annex, Attract
3. ante
Meaning: Before
Example: Antecedent
4. anti  
Meaning: Against
Example: Antifreeze, Antisocial, Antigravity
5. auto
Meaning: Self
Example: Autopilot
6. bi, bis
Meaning: Two
Example: Bicycle, Biannual, Biennial
7. circum, cir
Meaning: Around
Example: Circumscribe, Circle
8. com, con, co,col
Meaning: With, together
Example: Combine, Contact, Collect, Co-worker
9. de
Meaning: away from, down, the opposite of/ undo
Example: Depart, Decline, Derail
10. dis, dif, di
Meaning: Apart
Example: Dislike, Dishonest, Distant


11. epi  
Meaning: Upon, on top of
Example: Epitaph, Epilogue
12. equ, equi
Meaning: Equal
Example: Equalize, Equitable
13. ex, e, ef
Meaning: Out, from
Example: Exit, Eject, Exhale
14. extra
Meaning: Beyond
Example: Extraodinary
15. hex
Meaning: Six
Example: Hexadecimal
16. in, il, ig, ir, im
Meaning: Not
Example: Inactive, Ignoble, Irreversible, Irritate
17. in, il, ir, im, en
Meaning: In, into
Example: Inject, Impose
18. infra
Meaning: Below
Example: Infra-red
19. inter  
Meaning: Between, among
Example: International, Interpose
20. macro
Meaning: Large, great
Example: Macroeconomics
21. mal, male
Meaning: Bad, ill, wrong
Example: Malpractice, Malfunction
22. mega
Meaning: Large, great
Example: Magabyte
23. micro
Meaning: Very small
Example: Microbiology, Microcomputer, Microscopic
24. mini
Meaning: Small
Example: Minicomputer
25. mis 
Meaning: Wrong, badly
Example: Mistreat, Mistake , Misplace
26. mono 
Meaning: One, alone, single
Example: Monopoly, Monotone, Monologue, Monosyllable ”
27. multi
Meaning: Many
Example: Multiplexor, Multicoloured
28. non  
Meaning: Not, the reverse of
Example: Nonsense, Nonprofit
29. ob  
Meaning: In front, against, in front of, in the way of
Example: Obstacle, Obvious, Obviate
30. omni  
Meaning: Everywhere, all
Example: Omnipresent, Omnipotent


31. penta
Meaning: Five
Example: Pentagon
32. per  
Meaning: Through
Example: Pervade, Perceive
33. peri
Meaning: Around
Example: Peripheral, Periscope
34. poly  
Meaning: Many
Example: Polysyllable, Polygon
35. post  
Meaning: After / later/ behind
Example: Postpone, Postmortem, Postdate
36. pre
Meaning: Before, earlier than
Example: Preview, Prehistoric, Preface, Prepay
37. prime
Meaning: First
Example: Primary, Primitive
38. pro  
Meaning: Forward, going ahead of, supporting
Example: Proceed, Prowar, Promote
39. quad
Meaning: Four
Example: Quadruple
40. re  
Meaning: Again, back
Example: Retell, Recall, Recede, Reuse

41. retro
Meaning: Backward
Example: Retrograde, Retroactive
42. se  
Meaning: Apart
Example: Secede , Seclude
43. semi
Meaning: Half, partly
Example: Semiconductor
44. sub  
Meaning: Under, less than
Example: Submarine, Subway, Subliminal, Subfloor
45. super  
Meaning: Over, above, greater
Example: Superstar, Superimpose
46. trans  
Meaning: Across
Example: Transcontinental, Transverse
47. tri
Meaning: Three
Example: Triangle
48. un  
Meaning: Not
Example: Uninterested, Unhelpful , Unethical
49. un, uni
Meaning: One
Example: Unidirectional, Unanimous, Unilateral, Unpopular

English PREFIXES | Video

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