Prefixes List A to Z! Prefixes are a type of affix which is attached to the start of the root word. They change the meaning of the word. For instance, the prefixes ‘un-‘ and ‘dis-‘ can be added to adjectives to turn them into their opposite. e.g. happy – unhappy, fair – unfair. There are many other prefixes in English which do different things. You can see a list of them below, arranged in alphabetical order.
Prefixes List A to Z
- a
- ante
- anti
- arch
- auto
- bi
- circum
- co
- col, com, con
- contra, counter
- de
- dia
- dis
- dys
- e
- eco
- en(m)
- equi
- ex
- extra
- extra
- fore
- hyper
- il, im, in, ir
- in(m)
- inter
- intra
- kilo
- macro
- mal
- micro
- mid
- mis
- mono
- multi
- neo
- non
- out
- over
- post
- pre
- pro
- pseudo
- quasi
- re
- retro
- semi
- sub
- super
- trans
- ultra
- un
- under
- well
List of Prefixes with Examples |
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Prefixes |
Meanings |
Examples of Prefixes |
| eco | related to environment | Eco-Tourism, Eco-Disaster |
| a | without | Atypical, Amoral, Apolitical |
| de | opposite action | Declassify, Destroy |
| mis | wrongly, incorrect | Misunderstanding, Mistake, Mistranslate |
| non | not | Nonsense, Non-Believer, Non-Competitive |
| well | useful, successful | Well-Designed, Well-Written. Well-Established |
| over | over, above, too much | Overheat, Overhead, Overlook, Overcook |
| multi | many | Multicultural, Multi-Level |
| e | electronic | E-Governance, E-Book, E-Mail |
| under | under, beneath, insufficient | Undersea, Underpower, Underemployed |
| in(m) | movement to, in | Implant, Intake, Input, Import, Inset |
| ultra | extreme | Ultramodern, Ultra-Sensitive, Ultrasound |
| pseudo | false, | Pseudo-Intellectual, Pseudo-Science |
| pre | before | Pre-Independence, Pre-War, Pre-Industrial, Preview |
| un | not | Unscrew, Unusual, Unusual, Unplug, Uncertain |
| auto | self | Auto-Dial, Auto-Rotate |
| out | more, to a great extent | Outrage, Outburst, Outnumber, Outlive |
| inter | between, connected | Interrelated, Interact |
| co | with | Co-Author, Co-Edit |
| kilo | thousand | Kilowatt, Kilogram, Kilometer |
| post | after | Post-Independence, Post-Examination, Post-Modern |
| mal | bad, badly | Malfunction, Malpractice |
| extra | outside | Extraordinary, Extra-Curricular, Extrasensory |
| sub | part of something, under, beneath, | Subsection, Subway, Submarine |
| anti | against, opposing | Anti-War, Anti-Bacterial |
| fore | before | Forecast, Forelimb |
| mono | one | Mono-Centric, Monoculture |
| contra, counter | against, opposing | Counteract, Contraception, Counterclaim |
| micro | small | Micro-Economics, Micro-Scale |
| hyper | too much | Hyperactive, Hypersensitive |
| semi | partly, half | Semifinals, Semi-Precious, Semicircle, Semi-Organic |
| trans | across | Transit, Transport, Transcontinental, Transcribe |
| ex | previously, former | Ex-President, Ex-Student |
| neo | something old in new form | Neoclassical |
| quasi | almost, not quite | Quasi-Academic, Quasi-Legal |
| il, im, in, ir | not, opposite of | Irrational, Indistinct, Illogical, Impossible |
| mid | middle | Midway, Midsummer |
| pro | in favour of | Proactive, Pro-Feminist, Pro-Liberal |
| arch | more, extreme | Arch-Capitalist, Arch-Rebel |
| col, com, con | with | Connect, Collaborate, Combine |
| dis | not, opposite of | Disbelief, Distrust, Disagree, Disprove |
| extra | very | Extra-Bright, Extra-Strong |
| intra | within | Intra-Generational, Intramuscular |
| retro | backwards | Retrogressive, Retrospective |
| bi | two, twice | Bi-Monthly, Bilingual, Bisect |
| macro | large | Macroeconomics, Macro-Scale |
| super | above or bigger | Superstar, Superpower, Supersonic |
| dys | abnormal | Dyslexia, Dysfunctional |
| ante | before | Antecedent, Antedate |
| dia | across | Diagonal, Diameter |
| equi | equal | Equidistant, Equilateral |
| re | again | Return, Rename, Rediscover, Rejuvenate, Redefine |
| circum | round | Circumnavigate, Circumvent |
| en(m) | cause to | Encode, Embrace |
