35+ Common Prefixes in English with Meaning and Examples

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

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