Prefixes: A Huge List of Prefix with Meaning and Examples

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Welcome to our article on prefixes! If you’re learning English grammar, you’ve probably come across these little word bits before. But what exactly are prefixes, and how do they work? In this article, we’ll explore the basics of prefixes and give you some examples to help you understand how they can change the meaning of words.

What is A Prefix?

A prefix is a group of letters that we add to the beginning of a word to create a new word with a different meaning. Prefixes can change the meaning of a word, make it negative, or indicate relations of time, place, or manner.

For example, the prefix “un-” means “not.” When you add “un-” to “happy,” you get “unhappy.” Similarly, “pre-” means “before,” as in “preview.”

Prefixes can be one to three letters long. Common prefixes include anti-, dis-, in-, im-, re-, and un-.

Types of Prefixes

Prefixes are added to the beginning of a base word to modify its meaning. There are several types of prefixes.

Negative Prefixes

Used to negate meaning.

• un- → unhappy
• dis- → disagree
• non- → nonstop

Time and Number Prefixes

• bi- → bicycle
• tri- → tricycle
• milli- → millisecond

Size and Degree Prefixes

• micro- → microscope
• macro- → macroeconomics
• ultra- → ultraviolet

Distance and Direction Prefixes

• tele- → television
• trans- → transport
• inter- → international

List of Common Prefixes in English

a-, an-

• Meaning: without, lack of, not
• Example: amoral, acellular, abyss, achromatic, anhydrous

ante-

• Meaning: before, earlier
• Example: antecedent, antedate, anterior

anti-

• Meaning: against
• Example: anticlimax, antiseptic, antibody

auto-

• Meaning: self
• Example: autopilot, autobiography

circum-

• Meaning: around
• Example: circumnavigate, circumscribe

co-

• Meaning: together
• Example: co-worker, co-author

com-, con-

• Meaning: together
• Example: companion, concentrate

contra-, contro-

• Meaning: against
• Example: contradict, contrast

de-

• Meaning: down, away
• Example: deactivate, degrade

dis-

• Meaning: not
• Example: disappear, disagreeable

em-, en-

• Meaning: put into
• Example: embrace, enclose

ex-

• Meaning: out of
• Example: extract, exhale

extra-

• Meaning: beyond
• Example: extracurricular

hetero-

• Meaning: different
• Example: heterogeneous

homo-, homeo-

• Meaning: same
• Example: homonym, homeostasis

hyper-

• Meaning: over
• Example: hyperactive

il-, im-, in-, ir-

• Meaning: not
• Example: illegal, immoral

inter-

• Meaning: between
• Example: international

intra-, intro-

• Meaning: within
• Example: intravenous

macro-

• Meaning: large
• Example: macroeconomics

micro-

• Meaning: small
• Example: microscope

mono-

• Meaning: one
• Example: monologue

non-

• Meaning: not
• Example: nonfiction

omni-

• Meaning: all
• Example: omnivorous

post-

• Meaning: after
• Example: postscript

pre-, pro-

• Meaning: before
• Example: predict, project

sub-

• Meaning: under
• Example: submarine

sym-, syn-

• Meaning: together
• Example: synchronize

tele-

• Meaning: distance
• Example: telephone

trans-

• Meaning: across
• Example: transfer

tri-

• Meaning: three
• Example: triangle

un-

• Meaning: not
• Example: unhappy

uni-

• Meaning: one
• Example: unicorn

up-

• Meaning: higher
• Example: upgrade, upstage

Prefix Usage in Sentences

Prefixes in Nouns

Example: uncertainty, recovery

Prefixes in Verbs

Example: preview, rethink

Prefixes in Adjectives

Example: unhappy, disagreeable

Prefix Exercises with Answers

Prefix Matching

Prefix	Word
Un-	Agree
Dis-	Possible
Im-	Happy

Answers: Unhappy, Disagree, Impossible

Fill in the Blanks

1. The _____legal activity was reported.
2. I _____agree with you.
3. She _____believed him.

Answers: Il-, Dis-, Mis-

Multiple Choice

1. Illegal activity (correct answer)
2. Disagree (correct answer)
3. Misbelieved (correct answer)

Common Prefixes | Infographic

Related:

• Suffixes