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.
1. Prefix to Change Lexical Category
2. Prefix to Make Antonym
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 |
3. Common Prefix with Specific Meaning
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 |
4. Hard Prefix with Specific Meaning
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 |