Word formation English prefixes
PREFIXES in English
Prefix
aeroagro- (also
agri-)
anthropoauto-
bibliobiocardiochronoecoelectrogeohydro-
Mainly added to
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[ADVERBS]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
meta-
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
neo-
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
omni-
phil(o)phon(o)phot(o)psych(o)radio-
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
NEOCLASSICAL prefixes
Usual meaning
Examples
connected with
aerobic
air
aerodrome, aeronautics, aerobics
connected with
agricultural
farming
agronomist, agriculture, agronomy
connected with
anthropological, anthropocentric
human beings
anthropology, anthropologist
of or by yourself; autoimmune
by itself without automatically
a person to
autobiography, autograph, automobile
operate it
connected with
bibliographical
books
bibliophile, bibliography
connected with
biodegradable, biological, bionic
life
biochemistry, biosphere, biodiversity
connected with
cardiovascular
the heart
cardiology, cardiologist
connected with
chronological
time
chronometer, chronology, chronograph
connected with
ecological
the environment ecology, ecologist
connected with
electronic, electromagnetic
electricity
electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram
connected with
geometric, geothermal, geophysical
the earth
geology, geography, geologist
connected with
hydroelectric
water, combined hydroelectricity, hydroplane, hydrotherapy
with hydrogen
connected with
metabolic; metaphysical
change of
metabolism, metamorphosis;
position or state; metalanguage, metaphysics
higher or beyond
in a later form,
neonatal, neoclassical
new(ly)
neologism, neoclassicism
of all things, in
omnipresent, omniscient, omnivorous
all ways or
omnipresence, omniscience
places
liking
philologist, philosophical
philanthropy, philology, philosopher
connected with
phonetic, phonological
sound
phonology, phonetics, phoneme
connected with
photogenic, photosensitive
light
photography, photograph, photocopier
connected with
psychosomatic, psychiatric
the mind
psychology, psychoanalysis, psychopath
connected with
radioactive, radio-controlled
radio waves or
radiography, radiotherapy
broadcasting /
radioactivity
Word formation English prefixes
selfsemisoci(o)tele-
thermo-
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
Prefix
adis-
in- (also
il- [before l],
im- [before m / p],
ir- [before r])
nonun-
Prefix
dedisun-
Prefix
cent(i)decikilomegamilli-
of, to or by
yourself or itself
half, partly
connected with
society
connected with
television, over a
long distance
connected with
heat
self-addressed, self-taught, self-inflicted
self-control, self-service, self-portrait
semi-detached, semi-skimmed
semicircle, semiconductor, semivowel
socio-economic, sociocultural
sociolinguistics, sociology, sociopath
telegenic, telegraphic, telescopic
television, telecommunications, telegram,
telepathy, telephone
thermonuclear, thermodynamic
thermostat, thermometer
NEGATIVE prefixes
Mainly added to
Usual meaning
[ADJECTIVES]
not, without
[ADVERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
not, opposite
[ADVERBS]
[NOUNS]
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
not, opposite
[ADVERBS]
[NOUNS]
Examples
amoral, asexual, atheist
atypically
disabled, disloyal
disagreeably
disadvantage, disorder
disappear, disqualify
incomplete, illegal, impossible
immorally, irregularly
irrelevance, immortality
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[ADVERBS]
[PARTICIPLES]
non-verbal, non-returnable
non-smoker, non-stop
unable, uncertain
unconsciously, uncommonly
unexpected, unknowing
not, without
not, opposite
REVERSATIVE prefixes
Mainly added to
Usual meaning
[VERBS]
reverse an action,
[NOUNS]
remove something
[VERBS]
reverse an action,
remove something
[VERBS]
reverse an action,
remove something
Mainly added to
[NOUNS]
[NOUNS]
[NOUNS]
[NOUNS]
[NOUNS]
MEASURE prefixes
Usual meaning
hundredth
tenth
thousand
million
thousandth
Examples
defrost, decode, demist
decolonisation, deformation
disconnect, disinfect, displease
undo, untie, unlock
Examples
centimetre, centilitre
decilitre, decimetre
kilometre, kilogram
megabyte, megahertz, megawatt
millisecond, millimetre
Word formation English prefixes
Prefix
mono-/ unibitriquadr(i)pentaambipolymulti-
Prefix
supersub-
over-
under-
hyper-
hypo-
macromicroinfraultramegaminiout-
NUMBER prefixes
Mainly added to
Usual meaning
[ADJECTIVES]
one, single
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
two, twice, double
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
three
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
four
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
five
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
both of two
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
many
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
several
[NOUNS]
Examples
monogamous; unilateral
monorail; unicorn
bilingual
bicycle
triangular
tricycle, triathlon, trilogy
quadrilateral, quadruple
quadrant, quadriplegic
pentagonal
pentagon, pentagram
ambidextrous, ambivalent
ambiguity
polyglot, polysemous
polygon, polygamy, polygraph
multicultural
multimedia, multi-purpose
DEGREE or SIZE prefixes
Mainly added to
Usual meaning
[ADJECTIVES]
very, more/better
[NOUNS]
than usual
[ADJECTIVES]
lower/less than, a
[NOUNS]
smaller part
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
more than usual,
[NOUNS]
too much,
[VERBS]
completely
[ADJECTIVES]
lower/less than, not
[NOUNS]
enough, too little
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
too much,
[NOUNS]
extremely,
[VERBS]
more than normal
[ADJECTIVES]
too little, under,
[NOUNS]
below normal
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
very large, huge
[NOUNS]
on a large scale
[ADJECTIVES]
very small, tiny
[NOUNS]
on a small scale
[ADJECTIVES]
below or beyond a
[NOUNS]
particular limit
[ADJECTIVES]
extremely, beyond
[NOUNS]
a particular limit
[ADJECTIVES]
very large or great
[NOUNS]
[NOUNS]
small, little
[VERBS]
greater, better,
longer, further
Examples
supernatural, supersonic
supermodel, superhero
subdued, sub-zero, suburban
subaltern
subdivide
overcooked, overconfident
overemphasis
overload, overeat, overhear
underdeveloped
understatement, undergraduate
underestimate, underrate
hyperactive
hypertension
hyperventilate
hypocritical, hypodermic
hypothermia
hypothesize
macrobiotic
macroeconomics, macro-party
microscopic
microwaves, micro-organism
infrared
infrastructure
ultraviolet, ultrasonic
ultrasound
mega-rich
megaphone, megastar
miniskirt, minigolf, minibar
outrun, outnumber, outwit,
outlive
Word formation English prefixes
Prefix
anteextraforeinter-
intramidoutover-
pan-
sub-
super-
trans-
under-
Prefix
ante-
fore-
pre-
expost-
LOCATIVE prefixes
Mainly added to
Usual meaning
[NOUNS]
in front of
[ADJECTIVES] outside, beyond
[NOUNS]
in front of
[ADJECTIVES]
between, from one
[NOUNS]
to another
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
inside, within
[NOUNS]
in the middle of
[ADJECTIVES] outside, outwards,
[NOUNS]
away from
[ADJECTIVES]
above, outer, over
[NOUNS]
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES] connected with the
whole / including
all of something
[ADJECTIVES]
below, under
[NOUNS]
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
above, over
[NOUNS]
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
across, beyond, into
[NOUNS]
another place or
[VERBS]
state
[ADJECTIVES]
below, underneath
[NOUNS]
[VERBS]
TIME and ORDER prefixes
Mainly added to
Usual meaning
[ADJECTIVES]
before, in advance,
[NOUNS]
beforehand
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
before, in advance,
[NOUNS]
beforehand
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
before, in advance,
[NOUNS]
beforehand
[VERBS]
[NOUNS]
former, previous
[ADJECTIVES]
after
[NOUNS]
[VERBS]
Examples
ante-room
extraterrestrial, extramarital
foreground, forehead
international, interchangeable
intercourse, interaction, internet
intermarry, interlock, interrelate
intravenous, intrauterine
mid-June, midnight
outgoing, outbuilding, outdoor
outlaw, outfit, outcome, outbreak
overhead, overcast
overcoat, overlord
overfly
pan-American, pandemic
subterranean, subcutaneous
subway, submarine
submerge, subordinate
superscript
superstructure
superimpose
transatlantic, transcontinental
transaction, transcription
transplant, transform, transact
undercover, underground
undergrowth, underwear
underline
Examples
antediluvian, antenatal
anteroom
antedate
foreseeable, foremost
forebear, foreground
foretell, foresee, forecast
pre-cooked, predictable
precaution, precondition
precede, predecease
ex-wife, ex-president
postoperative, postnatal
postgraduate, post-modernism
postpone
Word formation English prefixes
Prefix
anti-
archco-
counter-
mal-
mispropseudore-
vice-
Prefix
abe-
en-
Mainly added to
[ADJECTIVES]
[ADVERBS]
[NOUNS]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[ADVERBS]
[NOUNS]
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[ADVERBS]
[NOUNS]
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[VERBS]
[NOUNS]
[VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS]
[VERBS]
[NOUNS]
Mainly added to
[VERBS] > [PREDICATIVE
ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS] > [PARTICIPIAL
ADJECTIVES]
[NOUNS] / [ADJECTIVES] /
[INTRANSITIVE VERBS] >
[TRANSITIVE VERBS]
[ADJECTIVES]/ [NOUNS] >
[VERBS]
ATTITUDE prefixes
Usual meaning
Examples
preventing, the
anticoagulant, antiperspirant
opposite of
anticlockwise
something
anticlimax, antifreeze, antibiotic
supreme, main,
archbishop, arch-enemy
most important
together (with)
co-produced
cooperatively
co-author, co-pilot
cooperate, coexist
against, opposite; counterproductive
corresponding
counterclockwise
counter-argument; counterpart
counteract, counter-attack
bad(ly), not
malodorous, malnourished
correct(ly)
malpractice, malformation
maltreat, malfunction
bad(ly),
misdeed, misunderstanding
wrong(ly)
misinterpret, misbehave, misjudge
for, in favour of, pro-European, pro-communist
supporting
pro-peace, pro-government
false, pretended, pseudo-intellectual, pseudo-academic
not genuine
pseudo-science, pseudonym
again, back
reassuring
reconstruction, reincarnation
reapply, rebuild
deputy
vice-president, vice-chairman
CONVERSION prefixes
Usual meaning
Examples
in the process of, in wash > awash; back > aback; jar >
a particular state
ajar; gape > agape; wake > awake
to make or treat as; spectacle > bespectacled; jewel >
wearing or covered bejewelled
with; to cause to be friend > befriend; head > behead
calm > becalm; little > belittle
moan > bemoan
to put into the thing sure > ensure, close > enclose
or condition
slave > enslave, tail > entail
mentioned, to make