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Manser, Martin H. "Prefixes and Suffixes." Writer's Reference Center. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 17 Apr. 2025. <http://fofweb.infobase.com/wrc/Detail.aspx?iPin=GTGW034>.
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Prefixes and Suffixes


Many longer single words can be broken down into constituent elements, namely a stem word providing the base of the longer word and any segments (affixes) added onto it. Affixes can be subdivided into prefixes (added to the beginning of the stem word) and suffixes (added to the end of the stem word).

A basic knowledge of the way in which prefixes and suffixes operate can be very useful when trying to work out the meaning of an otherwise unfamiliar word. By linking an unfamiliar coinage with a more familiar word sharing the same prefix or suffix, you can often make an educated guess about the new word's meaning. By the same token, it is worth spending time becoming conversant with the meaning of common prefixes and suffixes if only to avoid confusing them and thus being misled as to a word's actual meaning.

Prefixes

A prefix may be added to the beginning of an existing word to form an entirely new coinage, usually an elaboration of the original word. Sometimes, for instance, the prefix serves to provide a new verbal form of an accepted noun (such as befriend from friend) or converts a noun into an adjective (as with antiterrorist or prohunting). Sometimes it may be used to create a new word signifying the opposite of the original (usually the case with such prefixes as de-, dis-, in-, non-, and un-). Often, by a process known as assimilation, a prefix indicating the opposite of something is adjusted in form to match the existing word, as for instance in the case of in-, which transforms as a prefix to produce such words as irregular (from regular), illegible (from legible), or immortal (from mortal).

Many prefixes are married to the original without any kind of break, but some are tacked onto the original word with a hyphen, especially where the new word is felt to be a slightly cumbersome or relatively unfamiliar development of the original or where it is agreed the prefix needs to be kept distinct to promote clarity of meaning (as in self-harm or pro-Chinese). Often the hyphen may be dropped subsequently as the application of the prefix becomes more widely accepted.

Restraint should be exercised in the creation of new coinages through the addition of prefixes, since some readers may find such compounds as macroscopic or megabucks jargonistic or slangy. Some compounds, however, produced by the addition of a prefix have continued in use long after the original word has disappeared from the common vocabulary. Examples of this phenomenon include such words as uncouth and unkempt. In some cases, the prefix has become so well known it has assumed the status of a word in its own right (as in anti, extra, and ultra).

The application of prefixes and suffixes accounts for a substantial proportion of new additions to the English language (particularly true in relation to technological jargon). Knowing what a prefix means can assist greatly in the deciphering of a new word upon first encounter. The majority of prefixes come ultimately from Greek and Latin, and knowledge of these languages can provide a clue to their meaning.

The following table lists some of the more common prefixes, together with their meanings and examples of words created through their use:

PrefixMeaning(s)Example(s)
a-notasymmetry
ab-away fromabduct
ad-towardadvance
aero-airaerodynamic
ambi-bothambidextrous
ante- (See words often confused)beforeantecedent
anthrop(o)-humananthropology
anti- (See words often confused)againstantiwar
aqua-wateraquarium
arch-chiefarchenemy
astro-starsastronaut
audio-soundauditorium
auto-selfautobiographical
be-surroundbesiege
be-cause to bebefriend
bi-twobipolar
biblio-bookbibliography
bio-biologicalbiodiversity
by-nearbystander
by-secondaryby-product
centi-hundredcentimeter
chron(o)-timechronology
circum-aroundcircumnavigate
co-/col-/com-/con-/cor-togethercombination
co-/col-/com-/con-/cor-correlate
contra-oppositecontradict
counter-againstcounterpart
crypt(o)-hiddencryptography
cyber-computercyberspace
de-removededuct
de-do the reversedecelerate
deca-tendecahedron
deci-one-tenthdecimal
demi-halfdemigod
di-twodialogue
dia-throughdiameter
dis-notdissimilar
disoppositedisconnect
duo-twoduologue
dys-abnormaldysfunctional
e-electronice-mail
eco-ecologicalecotourism
electr(o)-electricityelectromagnetic
em-/en-put in or onenthrone
em-/en-surroundenmesh
em-/en- embrace
em-/en-cause to beenthrone
end(o)-insideendoscope
epi-aboveepidermis
epi-afterepilogue
equi-equalequitable
Eur(o)-EuropeanEurocentric
ex-formerex-boxer
ex-out ofexclude
extra-outsideextracurricular
for-rejectforgo
for-prohibitforbid
fore-in front offorehead
geo-earthgeology
giga-billiongigawatt
hect(o)-hundredhectare
hemi-halfhemisphere
hemo-bloodhemorrhage
hepta-sevenheptathlon
hetero-otherheterosexual
hexa-sixhexagonal
homo-samehomosexual
hydro-waterhydroelectric
hyper- (See words often confused)hugehypermarket
hyper-excessivehyperactive
hypo- (See words often confused)underhypothermia
ig-/il-/im-/in-/ir-notignominious
ig-/il-/im-/in-/ir- improbable
ig-/il-/im-/in-/ir- insoluble
il-/im-/in-/ir-intoinfiltrate
infra-belowinfrared
inter- (See words often confused)betweenintermediary
intra- (See words often confused)withinintravenous
intro- (See words often confused)inwardintrovert
iso-equalisobar
kilo-thousandkilometer
macro-largemacrocosm
mal-badmalfunction
mega-hugemegabucks
meta-changemetamorphosis
meta-concerned withmetamathematics
meta-behind or aftermetaphase
micro-very smallmicrobe
mid-middlemidterm
milli-one thousandthmillimeter
mini-smallminimal
mis-incorrectmisfire
mon(o)-onemonorail
multi-manymultiple
neo-newneologism
neuro-nervesneurotic
non-notnonverbal
ob-againstobstacle
oct(a/o)-eightoctagon
omni-allomnivorous
ortho-correctorthodox
out-beyondoutreach
out-outsideouthouse
over-aboveovercoat
over-too muchoverheat
pan-universalpantheon
para-besideparamilitary
para-beyondparanormal
pent(a)-fivePentagon
peri-aroundperimeter
phil-lovingphilanthropist
photo-lightphotograph
physio-naturalphysiology
physio-physicalphysiotherapy
poly-manypolygamy
post-afterpostgraduate
pre-beforeprenuptial
pro-forpro-Chinese
pro-substitute forpronoun
proto-firstprototype
pseudo-falsepseudonym
psycho-mindpsychologist
pyro-firepyromaniac
quad-fourquadruple
re-againrestart
re-backreturn
retro-backwardretroactive
self-selfself-abuse
semi-halfsemiretired
socio-societysociologist
sub-belowsubterranean
super-more thansupercriminal
supra-abovesupranational
sur-oversurcharge
sur-beyondsurpass
sym-/syn-together withsympathetic
sym-/syn-synchronous
techno-technologytechnophobia
tele-at a distancetelevision
the(o)-Godtheology
thermo-heatthermodynamic
trans-acrosstranscontinental
tri-threetriumvirate
turbo-turbine-driventurbo-charged
ultra-beyondultraviolet
ultra-extremelyultrasensitive
un-notuncontested
un-oppositeunleashed
under-belowunderpass
under-less thanunderestimate
uni-oneunicycle
vice-deputyvice-chancellor
video-visualvideotape

Suffixes

Suffixes are sometimes appended to stem words to form new words, which can include nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. The addition of such suffixes as -s or -ed creates the inflected forms of verbs (as in walks, walked, walking) or indicates the plural of nouns (as in cars, tables, wasps).

The following table lists some of the more common suffixes, together with their meanings and examples of words created through their use:

SuffixMeaning(s)Example(s)
-able capable ofreadable
-ablecausingcomfortable
-ageof a groupbaggage
-ageactionpassage
-agestatebondage
-agefeepostage
-aholic/-oholicaddicted toalcoholic
-alactionrebuttal
-alrelating topractical
-anbelonging to, coming fromEuropean
-antypical ofElizabethan
-ance/-ancyindicating a state or conditionresemblance
-antcausing or performingpleasant
-ar of, belonging to, or likelinear
-aryof or related tocautionary
-aryconnected withmissionary
-atepossessingfortunate
-atehaving a certain functionelectorate
-aticof the nature ofproblematic
-ationaction, state, or conditiondiscoloration
-cidekillingsuicide
-cystate or qualitylunacy
-domstate or conditionfreedom
-domdomainearldom
-domgroup of personsofficialdom
-edin the pasthappened
-edpossessingquickwitted
-eerecipientaddressee
-eeof a specified groupdevotee
-eerconcerned withengineer
-enbecomewhiten
-enmade ofearthen
-ence/-encystate, condition, or qualitybenevolence
-entcausing or performingastringent
-er moreslower
-erdoing or involved inworker
-erliving inNew Yorker
-ercharacterized byteenager
-ery/-ryplace of activitybrewery
-ery/-rygroup of thingscrockery
-ery/-ryconditionslavery
-ery/-rythe practice ofwizardry
-espluralbushes
-eseplace of origin or languageJapanese
-esqueof a specified characterstatuesque
-essfemininewaitress
-estmostlongest
-ettesmallkitchenette
-ettefemininemajorette
-foldmultiplied bythreefold
-fulcharacterized bysoulful
-fulable to or helpfuluseful
-fulamount specifiedmouthful
-fy/-ifymake or becomepetrify
-gonanglepolygon
-hoodstate, conditionchildhood
-hoodbody of personspriesthood
-iof a region or peoplePakistani
-ianbelonging to, coming fromEgyptian
-ianexpert intechnician
-iblecapable ofcollectible
-iblecausingcontemptible
-ic/-icalrelating tocomical
-icepractice ofservice
-icsa science or artoptics
-icsa specified activityacrobatics
-idea chemical compoundbromide
-ieinformal name fornightie
-ieaffectionate diminutivelassie
-ineof or relating todivine
-ingpast participlewalking
-ingaction or resultwedding
-ingmaterialsheeting
-ionaction, process, or resultcelebration
-iousby or full ofambitious
-ishof or relating tofoolish
-ishsomewhatyellowish
-ishof a country or languageEnglish
-ishapproximatelytennish
-ismdoctrine, theory, or systemsocialism
-ismaction, process, or resultexorcism
-ismcondition or qualitymodernism
-ismprejudice or discriminationageism
-istadherent or followercommunist
-istinvolved in a particular fieldbotanist
-istuser ofmotorist
-istcharacterized bypessimist
-itefollower ofJacobite
-itefossil or mineraldolomite
-itenative or inhabitant ofIsraelite
-itisdisease or conditionperitonitis
-itystate or conditionfragility
-ivehaving the quality ofmassive
-ivecausingdigestive
-ize/-isemake or becomesterilize
-lessfree fromfearless
-letdiminutive form ofbooklet
-likeresemblinglifelike
-lingdiminutive form ofduckling
-logyscience or subjectastrology
-lyhaving the quality ofmanly
-lyhappening regularlyweekly
-manperson fulfilling a rolesalesman
-mentaction, result, or stateagreement
-mostthe furthestinnermost
-nesscondition, state, or qualityeagerness
-nikpractitioner or supporter ofrefusenik
-oidresemblinganthropoid
-orperson or thing doing somethingactor
-oractivity, condition, or statehorror
-oryplace wheredormitory
-oryhaving a qualityillusory
-ousfull ofglorious
-philelover of or lovingAnglophile
-phobiafear ofagoraphobia
-spluralbees
-'sof or belonging toperson's
-shipcondition, quality, or statecomradeship
-shipskillworkmanship
-shipgroup offellowship
-somecausingtiresome
-sterbelonging togangster
-thadjectival numberfourth
-thprocess or stategrowth
-tystate or conditionfrailty
-ward/-wardsexpressing directionbackward
-waysexpressing direction ormannerlengthways
-wisein such a mannerlikewise
-wisewith regard tomoneywise
-womanwoman fulfilling a roleScotswoman
-ycharacterized bylucky
-yaffectionate diminutivesonny
-yact of doing somethinginquiry
-ycondition, quality, or statejealousy

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