Common Prefixes in English with Meaning And Examples

Prefixes are letters which we add to the beginning of a word to make a new word with a different meaning. Prefixes can, for example, create a new word opposite in meaning to the word the prefix is attached to. The list below shows common prefixes in English that you should know. 

Common Prefixes in English

a-, an-

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

ante-

• Meaning: before, earlier, in front of
• Example: antecedent, antedate, antemeridian, anterior

anti-

• Meaning: against, opposite of
• Example: anticlimax. antiaircraft, antiseptic, antibody

auto-

• Meaning: self, same
• Example: autopilot, autobiography, automobile, autofocus

circum-

• Meaning: around, about
• Example: circumvent, circumnavigate, circumscribe

co-

• Meaning: with, together
• Example: co-pilot, co-worker, co-exist, co-author

com-, con-

• Meaning: together, with
• Example: companion, commingle, contact, concentrate

contra-, contro-

• Meaning: against, opposite
• Example: contradict, contrast, contrary, controversy

de-

• Meaning: down, off, away from
• Example: devalue, deactivate, debug, degrade, deduce

dis-

• Meaning: not, apart, away
• Example: disappear, disagreeable, disbar, dissect

en-

• Meaning: put into, cover with
• Example: enclose, entangle, enslave, encase

ex-

• Meaning: out of, from, former
• Example: extract, exhale, excavate, ex-president

extra-

• Meaning: beyond, outside, more than
• Example: extracurricular, extramarital, extravagant

hetero-

• Meaning: different, other
• Example: heterosexual, heterodox, heterogeneous

homo-, homeo-

• Meaning: same, alike
• Example: homonym, homophone, homeostasis, homosexual

hyper-

• Meaning: over, more, beyond
• Example: hyperactive, hypersensitive, hypercritical

il-, im-, in-, ir-

• Meaning: not, without
• Example: illegal, immoral, inconsiderate, irresponsible

inter-

• Meaning: between, among
• Example: intersect, interstellar, intervene, interpenetrate

intra-, intro-

• Meaning: within, inside
• Example: intravenous, intragalactic, introvert

macro-

• Meaning: large, prominent
• Example: macroeconomics, macrostructure, macrocosm

micro-

• Meaning: very small
• Example: microscope, microcosm, microbe

mono-

• Meaning: one, single, alone
• Example: monocle, monologue, monogamy, monotony

non-

• Meaning: not, without
• Example: nonentity, nonaggressive, nonessential, nonfiction

omni-

• Meaning: all, every
• Example: omniscient, omnivorous, omniscient, omnidirectional

post-

• Meaning: after, behind
• Example: postmortem, posterior, postscript, postoperative

pre-, pro-

• Meaning: before, forward
• Example: precede, predict, project, prologue

sub-

• Meaning: under, lower
• Example: submarine, subsidiary, substandard

sym-, syn-

• Meaning: same time, together
• Example: symmetry, symposium, synchronize, synapse

tele-

• Meaning: from or over a distance
• Example: telecommunications, telemedicine, television, telephone

trans-

• Meaning: across, beyond, through
• Example: transmit, transaction, translation, transfer

tri-

• Meaning: three, every third
• Example: tricycle, trimester, triangle, triathlon

un-

• Meaning: not, lacking, opposite of
• Example: unfinished, unskilled, ungraceful, unfriendly

uni-

• Meaning: one, single
• Example: unicorn, unicellular, unicycle, unilateral

up-

• Meaning: to the top or north, higher/better
• Example: upbeat, updo, upgrade, upload, uphill, upstage, upscale, up-tempo

Common Prefixes | Infographic