Prefixes Words
In English Language, knowing of words’ formation is so important. Different words are made from other words by adding something or deducting something. Using of prefixes is one of the ways to form words from other words.
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Definition of prefix
Prefix is defined as a letter/letters added at the beginning of the word to make a new word. It is also defined as an affix that is placed in front of the word to form a new word. Adding of the affix changes the word into another word. The new form of the word sometimes gives the same meaning and sometimes gives a new meaning.
Examples of Prefixes words
Prefix: The word ‘prefix’ by itself is an example of the prefix. It is made up of two words pre and fix. Pre means before and fix means attach. They both form a new word ‘prefix’ which means to attach affix in front of the word.
Oversight: The word oversight is formed by adding the prefix ‘over’ to the word sight. Sight means the act of looking or observing. Meaning of the ‘over’ is a high place. When the prefix ‘over’ is added in front of ‘sight’ that form a new word oversight. Oversight means watching or observing someone.
Insight: The word sight means an act of looking or observing. When ‘in’ is added as a prefix, it becomes insight. Insight means looking deeper in to the center or feeling of understanding.
List of Prefixes words with examples
Prefix | Meaning | Example |
A, an | Without, not, lack of | Atheist, amoral, anhydrous |
There are more amoral politicians in our country. | ||
Ab | Not, bad | Abnormal, abuse |
The news stunned me when I heard that his child is abnormal. | ||
Ad | To | Adjoin |
Our office adjoins our house. | ||
Ante | Before, earlier | Anterior, antecedent |
Ali called Diya and advised her. Diya is the antecedent of the pronoun her. | ||
Anti | Against | Antiaircraft, antibody |
Antibody test is required to go abroad. | ||
Auto | Self, same | Autobiography, autopilot |
I have not written autobiography so far. | ||
Be | All around | Beset |
He was beset by wolves. | ||
Bi | Two | Bilateral |
Saudi and America have bilateral relations. | ||
Circum | Around, about | Circumstances |
If the circumstances permitted, we would study abroad. | ||
Co | Together, with | Co-educate, co-worker |
John and Tom are co-workers. | ||
Com, Con | Together, with | Concentrate, companion |
We must concentrate on our studies. | ||
Contra, Contro | Against, opposite | Contrast, controversial |
It has become controversial point. Leave it now. | ||
Cor | Together | Correct |
You have to give correct answers. | ||
Counter | Opposition | Counterattack |
Two rebels have been killed in counterattack. | ||
De | Away from, off, down | Devalue, deactivate, degrade |
It is not better to degrade any of your friends. | ||
Di | Two | Dioxide |
Carbon dioxide is the combination of Carbon and Oxygen. | ||
Dia | Through | Diameter |
I need a pipe with four inches diameter. | ||
Dis | Opposite, not | Dissatisfied, disappear |
She disappeared just after the lunch. | ||
En | Put into, cover with | Enclose, encase |
Fog enclosed the whole area today. | ||
Ex | Former, out of, from | Ex-president, extract, excavate |
The ex-president wants to take participation in election again. | ||
Extra | Beyond, more than | Extraordinary, extracurricular |
He performed better in all extracurricular activities. | ||
Hetero | Other, different | Heterogeneous, heterosexual |
The heterogeneous architecture of our city needs to be changed. | ||
Hemi | Half | Hemisphere |
Equator divides the Earth into two hemispheres. | ||
Home, Homeo | Same | Homogeneous, homeostasis |
Homogeneous grouping is advised, so put the students of same abilities in the same class. | ||
Hyper | Over | Hypersensitive |
Don’t be hypersensitive about the situation. Let it be as it is. | ||
Hypo | Under | Hypothesis |
My hypothesis is that debt financing has positive effects on capital structure. | ||
Il, im, in, ir | Without, not | Illegal, impossible, incomplete, irresponsible |
It is illegal to have weapons without having license. | ||
In | In, into | Insert, infiltrate |
We have been infiltrated by our enemies. | ||
Infra | Below | Infrastructure |
Our government must assign high budget to infrastructure. | ||
Inter | With in | Interschool |
We enjoyed a lot interschool games. | ||
Intra, Intro | Inside | Intramuscular |
Intramuscular injections were used to give me vaccines. | ||
Macro | Large | Macroeconomics |
I got the highest marks in Macroeconomics. | ||
Mal | Ill, bad | Malnutrition, malpractice |
The number of children who have malnutrition increases. | ||
Micro | Very small | Microscope |
Bacteria can be seen by microscope. | ||
Mis | Bad | Misbehavior |
Misbehavior is not bearable in reputed organizations. | ||
Mono | Single | Monotone |
She read the story in monotone. | ||
Non | Not, opposite | Nonsense |
I don’t like her because she talks a lot of nonsense. | ||
Omni | Every | Omnivorous |
We eat meat and vegetables, that is why we are called omnivorous. | ||
Out | Outside | Outwit |
The hunter was outwitted by the fox. | ||
Over | More than enough | Overconfidence |
His expectations were high and he was overconfident. | ||
Post | After | Postmortem |
They have submitted postmortem report in the court. | ||
Pre, Pro | Before | Prefix |
We are discussing prefixes. | ||
Re | Again | Rewrite |
You need to rewrite your report. | ||
Semi | Half | Semifinal |
Tomorrow is semifinal. I will watch. | ||
Sub | Alternate | Subway |
Metro system is also called subway system. | ||
Super | Beyond | Supernatural |
Do you believe in the supernatural? | ||
Sym, Syn | Same time, together | Symmetry |
In fact, I liked the symmetry of the painting. | ||
Tele | Over a distance | Telecommunication |
Pak telecommunication authority imposed takes on mobile phones. | ||
To | This | Today |
Today is our English test, so I have to study. | ||
Trans | Across | Transplant |
He wants hair transplant and I don’t recommend. | ||
Tri | Three | Triangle |
Triangle is one of the shapes that has tree angles. | ||
Ultra | Beyond | Ultrasound |
I saw her in the hospital. She had ultrasound exam this morning. | ||
Un | Not, opposite | Unhappy |
She was unhappy because her result was worse than before. | ||
Under | Below, not enough | Underestimate |
Don’t underestimate yourself. A day will come that you will be at the top of the world. | ||
Uni | Single | Unilateral |
They took unilateral decision about cutting the pay of pilot. | ||
Up | Getting higher | Upgrade |
All employees were upgraded after two years. | ||
Vice | Alternate of | Vice president |
Who will be the vice president of the United States of America? | ||
Hyphen is used or not with prefixes words
Do we use a punctuation mark (hyphen) between affix and prefix? Rules are different about using hyphen. It is better to consult a dictionary if you are not sure.
When a prefix is added to a proper noun, we hyphenate the prefix.
- Anti-American
- Pro-Pakistan
- Pre-World War
When the last letter of a prefix and the first letter of an affix are the same, you need to hyphenate. You may not use hyphen when it is ‘o’.
- Re-entry
- Re-enter
You need to use a hyphen with special prefixes such as ex, self.
- Self-conscious
- Self-respect
- Ex-president
Sometimes you need to hyphenate the prefix in order to clarify the reader. Sometimes a word creates confusion or gives a different meaning in one case.
- Re-cover
- Re-press
You can use some prefixes in both forms. It depends upon the writer to use hyphen or not.
- Antigovernment
- Anti-government
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