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Prefixes list
These are the most common prefixes, along with their most common meanings. Not every meaning is given here. Use a dictionary for more information. Starred (*) prefixes are listed under two or more headings.
Time
after- |
happening after |
afterbirth, after-effects |
ante- |
before |
antecedent, antenatal |
ex- |
previous |
ex-teacher, ex-wife |
mid- |
in the middle of |
mid-twenties, mid-term |
neo- |
modern or new |
neo-Nazi, neo-colonialism |
post- |
after |
postgraduate, post-war |
pre- |
before |
pre-emptive, pre-war |
re- |
again |
rediscover, rename |
retro- |
backwards |
retrogressive, retrospection |
For and against
anti- |
opposing |
antidepressant, anti-war |
counter- |
opposing |
counterattack, counterproposal |
pro- |
supporting |
pro-life, pro-democracy |
Opposite, not
a- |
without or not |
atheist, atypical |
de- |
the opposite of |
decentralize, demotivating |
dis- |
the opposite of |
disagree, disprove |
il/im/in/ir- |
not |
illegal, immature, inaccurate |
non- |
not |
non-smoker, non-payment |
un- |
not |
unfair, unlock |
More or big
arch- |
most important |
arch-rival, archbishop |
*extra- |
more than normal |
extra-strong, extra-large (informal) |
hyper- |
more than usual |
hypersensitive, hyper-inflation |
macro- |
big (size/scope) |
macroeconomics, macro-climate |
mega- |
very large |
megacity, megastore |
*out- |
bigger, better |
outgrown, outrun |
*over- |
too much |
overweight, overcooked |
super- |
better or bigger |
superhuman, supermarket |
ultra- |
extremely |
ultra-modern, ultra-sensitive |
Less, small, partly
micro- |
small (size/scope) |
microeconomics, microchip |
part- |
not completely |
part-owner, part-financed |
semi- |
half, partly |
semicircular, semi-literate |
*sub- |
lesser |
substandard, subcommittee |
*under- |
lower, not enough |
underdeveloped, undercooked |
Bad
ill- |
bad, not enough |
ill-equipped, ill-feeling |
mal- |
bad |
malfunction, malnourished |
mis- |
bad, wrong |
misbehave, misinterpret |
Position
cross- |
across, between |
cross-fertilize, cross-reference |
*extra- |
outside, beyond |
extramarital, extraterrestrial |
inter- |
between |
international, intermarriage |
intra- |
into, inside |
intravenous, intranet |
*out- |
outside |
outpatient, outbuildings |
*over- |
above, outer |
overhead, overcoat |
*sub- |
below |
submarine, subterranean |
trans- |
across, between |
transatlantic, transplant |
*under- |
below, beneath |
underground, underclothes |
Number
bi- |
two |
bicycle, bilingual |
di- |
two |
dioxide, diphthong |
mono- |
single, one |
monogamy, monorail |
multi- |
many, several |
multicoloured, multicultural |
omni- |
all |
omnivore, omniscient |
pan- |
all |
pan-African, pandemic |
poly- |
more than one |
polygamous, polyglot |
tri- |
three |
tricycle, triangle |
uni- |
single |
uniform, unilateral |
Miscellaneous
auto- |
by yourself/itself |
autobiography, automatic |
co- |
together, with |
co-author, cooperate |
col/com/con- |
together, with |
confederation, collaborate |
e- |
Internet |
email, e-business |
para- |
similar to |
paramedic, paramilitary |