35+ Common Prefixes in English with Meaning and Examples

Learn list of frequently used prefixes in English with their meaning and examples.

Learn list of common suffixes in English.

List of Prefixes

ante-

• Meaning: Before
• Example: Antenatal, anteroom, antedate

anti-

• Meaning: Against, opposing
• Example: Antibiotic, antidepressant, antidote, antisocial

circum-

• Meaning: Around
• Example: Circumstance, circumvent, circumnavigate

co-

• Meaning: With
• Example: Co-worker, co-pilot, co-operation

de-

• Meaning: Off, down, away from
• Example: Devalue, defrost, derail, demotivate

dis-

• Meaning: Opposite of, not
• Example: Disagree, disappear, disintegrate, disapprove

em-, en-

• Meaning: Cause to, put into
• Example: Embrace, encode, embed, enclose, engulf

epi-

• Meaning: Upon, close to, after
• Example: Epicentre, episcope, epidermis

ex-

• Meaning: Former, out of
• Example: Ex-president, ex-boyfriend, exterminate

extra-

• Meaning: Beyond, more than
• Example: Extracurricular, extraordinary, extra-terrestrial

fore-

• Meaning: Before
• Example: Forecast, forehead, foresee, foreword, foremost

homo-

• Meaning: Same
• Example: Homosexual, homonuclear, homoplastic

hyper-

• Meaning: Over, above
• Example: Hyperactive, hyperventilate

il-, im-, in-, ir-

• Meaning: Not
• Example: Impossible, illegal, irresponsible, indefinite

im-, in-

• Meaning: Into
• Example: Insert, import, inside

infra-

• Meaning: Beneath, below
• Example: Infrastructure, infrared, infrasonic, infraspecific

inter-, intra-

• Meaning: Between
• Example: Interact, intermediate, intergalactic, intranet, interstellar

macro-

• Meaning: Large
• Example: Macroeconomics, macromolecule

micro-

• Meaning: Small
• Example: Microscope, microbiology, microfilm, microwave

mid-

• Meaning: Middle
• Example: Midfielder, midway, midsummer

mis-

• Meaning: Wrongly
• Example: Misinterpret, misfire, mistake, misunderstand

mono-

• Meaning: One, singular
• Example: Monotone, monobrow, monolithic

non-

• Meaning: Not, without
• Example: Nonsense, nonentity, nondescript

omni-

• Meaning: All, every
• Example: Omnibus, omnivore, omnipotent

para-

• Meaning: Beside
• Example: Parachute, paramedic, paradox

post-

• Meaning: After
• Example: Post-mortem, postpone, post-natal

pre-

• Meaning: Before
• Example: Prefix, predetermine, pre-intermediate

pro-

• Meaning: Foward
• Example: Proceed, prowar, promote, propose, progress

re-

• Meaning: Again
• Example: Return, rediscover, reiterate, reunite

semi-

• Meaning: Half
• Example: Semicircle, semi-final, semiconscious

sub-

• Meaning: Under
• Example: Submerge, submarine, sub-category, subtitle

super-

• Meaning: Above, over
• Example: Superfood, superstar, supernatural, superimpose

therm-

• Meaning: Heat
• Example: Thermometer, thermostat, thermodynamic

trans-

• Meaning: Across, beyond
• Example: Transport, transnational, transatlantic

tri-

• Meaning: Three
• Example: Triangle, tripod, tricycle

un-

• Meaning: Not
• Example: Unfinished, unfriendly, undone, unknown

uni-

• Meaning: One
• Example: Unicycle, universal, unilateral, unanimous

Prefixes List | Pictures

Useful Prefixes in English | Image 1

Useful Prefixes in English | Image 2