Common Prefixes and Examples

Prefix is one of the main ways to derive new words, it's an affix placed before the stem of a word to form a new word. For example, if putting prefix "un" in front of "happy", we create a new word "unhappy". The "prefix" itself is another example, prefix "pre" plus "fix" forms a new word.

Prefix is applied to the original stem or existing word to change either lexical category or meaning. We will introduce common prefixes and theirs examples in following sections.

a-	change to adj./adv.	asleep aboard aside ashore ablaze
be-	change to verb	befriend bewitch behead belittle bedim
em-	change to verb	embark embed embody empower embitter
en-	change to verb	endanger encourage enrage enforce enslave
out-	change to verb	outflank outnumber outpace outwit outsmart

de-	decentralize decode decolonize dehydrate declassify
dis-	dislike distrust disagree disorder dishonest
il-	illegal illogical illiterate illegible illimitable
im-	impatient impolite impossible immature import
in-	incapable informal independent injustice inadequate
ir-	irregular irresponsible irritable irrelevant irradiate
mal-	malnutrition maladjusted malware malodorous malcontent   More words and examples
non-	nonessential nonfiction nonprofit nonstop nondairy
un-	unable uncertain untidy unfairly undo

all-	all, whole	allegation allegiance allegory allergic alleviate alliance alligator
anti-	against	antibiotic anticipate anticlimax antidote antipathy antiquate antiquity   More words and examples
arch	big, main	archaeological archetype archipelago architect archives   More words and examples
auto-	do by self	autobiographical autocrat automate automobile automotive autonomous   More words and examples
bi-	two,double	bicameral biennial bilateral
bio-	living, life	biographer biologist
centi-	one percent	centigrade
co-	together	coagulate coalition
counter-	opposite	counterbalance counterclockwise counterfeit countermand counterpart countervail   More words and examples
down-	down, worsen	downcast downpour
ever-	lasting	evergreen everlasting
ex-	before, previous	exaggerate exaltation exceed
extra-	special, additional	extraordinary extrapolation   More words and examples
fore-	front, before	forebear forecast forefront foremost   More words and examples
hand-	by hand	handbook handicraft   More words and examples
hydro-	with water	hydrophobia hydrosphere   More words and examples
ill-	not good, not fit	illegible illimitable illiterate   More words and examples
inter-	between, connected	interaction intercept interdependence interfere
mal-	bad, negative	maladroit malaise malcontent malediction malefactor   More words and examples
man-	by man, to man	mandate maneuver manipulate
milli-	one thousandth	millionaire
mini-	small, tiny	miniature minimalist minimise minimize   More words and examples
mis-	wrong, error	misapprehension miscarriage mischance mischief misconceive   More words and examples
news-	news	newscast newsstand
over-	beyond, more than	overbalance overbearing overburden overcast overconfidence   More words and examples
post-	after, post	postdate posterior postgraduate   More words and examples
pre-	before, front	preamble precaution precede   More words and examples
pro-	like, support	proceed process proclaim   More words and examples
re-	again	readjust reassurance
self-	self	self-possession self-sufficient
semi-	half	semiarid semiliterate
sub-	next level, short of	subdivision subject subjugate submarine submerge   More words and examples
super-	extreme	supercilious superfluous supernatural supersede   More words and examples
tele-	far distance	telecommunication telegraph telescope   More words and examples
trans-	moving, cross	transaction transcend transform transfuse transgress   More words and examples
under-	under	undercharge underestimate undergraduate underground underline   More words and examples
uni-	unique	unicorn uniform unilateral unimpeachable   More words and examples
up-	up, lead changing	upbring update upgrade
well	well, ready	well-being

aero-	in air	aerodynamics
ante-	in front of	antecede antedate anterior
astro-	space, cosmic	astronomer
cardi-	heart	cardiologist
chron-	time, history	chronicle chronological
contra-	against	contradict
cross-	cross	crossbones crossfire
electro-	of electricity	electromagnetic electronics
fresh-	just, fresh	freshness
geo-	related to earth	geology geometry
homo-	same	homogeneous
hyper-	very	hypercritical hypersensitive
mega-	very large	megalomania
micro-	tiny, small	microcosm microfilm microscope
mono-	single, alone	monochromatic monolithic monologue monopolize monotonous
multi-	many, multiple	multicellular multifarious multiform multilateral multilingual
neo-	new	neoclassical neologism neonate neophyte
neur-	of nerve	neurotic
pan-	all inclusive	panacea pandemic panorama
para-	vice, sub level	paradigm paragraph parallel paralyse
phon-	of voice	phonetic
poly-	multiple	polygamist polyglot polygonal
quad-	four related	quadrilateral quadruped
socio-	of society	sociology
sur-	over, passed	surcharge surface surging
sym-	same	symmetrical sympathetic
tech-	of technology	technical technique technology
therm-	hot, warm	thermometer thermostat
tri-	three related	tribunal tributary trilogy
ultra-	extreme, very	ultrasonic ultraviolet
video-	video	videocassette