2. PREFIXES What is a Prefix? A prefix is an attachment before or in front of an existing word or stem, serving to form a new word or new meaning. New meaning example: “un-” makes a happy person sad (unhappy) New word example: “pre-” means before “fix” means to reconstruct or attach pre + fix = prefix (attach before, constructs new) Most prefixes have Greek or Latin origins   

3. PrefixMeaningExample a-/an- lacking in, lack of asexual, anaerobic anti- against anti-war, antivirus arch- supreme, highest, worst arch-rival, archangel be- equipped with, covered with, beset with (pejorative or facetious) bedeviled, becalm, bedazzle, bewitch co- joint, with, accompanying co-worker, coordinator, cooperation counter- against, in opposition to counteract, counterpart de- reverse action, get rid of de-escalate dis- not, opposite of disloyal, disagree dis- reverse action, get rid of disconnect, disinformation ex- former ex-husband, ex-boss Common Prefixes (Not a complete list)

4. PrefixMeaningExample fore- beforeforearm, forerunner hyper- extra specially, overly, highlyhyperactive, hyperthermia in-/il-/im-/ir- not, opposite ofinexact, irregular inter- between, amonginterstate, interact mal- bad(ly)malnourish mid- middlemidlife mini- smallminimart, miniature mis- wrong, astraymisinformation, misguide out- better, faster, longer, beyondoutreach, outcome over- too muchoverreact, overact pan- all, worldwidepandemic Common Prefixes (Not a complete list)

5. PrefixMeaningExample post- afterpost-surgery, post-graduation pre- beforepre-election, pre-order pro- for, on the side ofpro-life re- again, backrerun self- selfself-sufficient sub- under, lower than, less than, beneath, lesser in rank sub-zero super- over, above, more than, better super-heated, superpower, supernatural trans- across, from one place to another transcontinental ultra- beyond, extremelyultraviolet, ultramagnetic un- not, opposite ofunnecessary, unequal Common Prefixes (Not a complete list)

6. PrefixMeaningExample un- reverse action, deprive of, release from undo, untie under- below, beneath, lower in grade/dignity, lesser, insufficient underachieve, underground, underpass vice- deputyvice-president, vice-principal with- againstwithstand Common Prefixes (Not a complete list)

7. PrefixMeaningExample ambi- bothambidextrous ante- beforeantechamber anti- oppositeanti-anxiety astro- starastronaut auto- selfautobiography, automatic bi- twobicycle bio- lifebiodegradable circum- aroundcircumnavigate con-/com-/col-/cor-/co- together or with confederation, commingle, colleague, correlation, cohabit contra- oppositecontradict Classical Prefixes (Not a complete list)

8. PrefixMeaningExample cryo- icecryogenics crypto- hidden, secretcryptography de- downdepress demi- halfdemigod demo- peopledemography di- twodichotomy dis-, di-, dif- apartdiffer, dissect down- to make something lesser, lower or worse downgrade du-/duo- twoduet epi- up on top, at, close upon, in addition epidermis Classical Prefixes (Not a complete list)

9. PrefixMeaningExample ex- out ofexport extra- outsideextracurricular geo- relating to the earth, or its surface geography hetero- differentheterosexual hemi- halfhemicerebral homo- samehomosexual, homosapien hydro- relating to water, or using water hydroelectricity hypo- under, below, lowhypothermia idio- individual, personal, uniqueidiosyncrasy in- in, intoinsert Classical Prefixes (Not a complete list)

10. PrefixMeaningExample infra- below, beneathinfrared inter- among, betweenintercept intra- inside, withinintravenous maxi- very long, very largemaximum mega-, megalo- great, largemegastar, megamall meta- after, along with, beyond, among, behind metamorphosis micro- smallmicrobiology mon(o)- sole, onlymonogamy multi- manymulti-syllabic neo- newneo-Nazi Classical Prefixes (Not a complete list)

11. PrefixMeaningExample non- notnonexistent omni- allomnipotent, omnipresent paleo- oldpaleontologist para- beside, beyondparallel ped-/pod- footpedestrian, podiatrist per- through, completely, wrongly, exceedingly permeate, permanent photo- lightphotography poly- manypolygamy Classical Prefixes (Not a complete list)

12. PrefixMeaningExample post- afterpostpone pre- beforeprevent pro- substitute, deputyproconsul pro- beforeproactive proto- first, originalprototype pseudo- false, imitationpseudoscience pyro- firepyromaniac quasi- partly, almost, appearing to be but not really quasi-religious retro- backwardsretro-style semi- halfsemicircle Classical Prefixes (Not a complete list)

13. PrefixMeaningExample sub-, sup- below, undersupport super- above, oversupervisor sur- above, oversurreal, surrender syn-, sy-, syl-, sym- together, with synthesis, symbol, syllable, system tele- at a distancetelevision trans- acrosstransverse tri- threetricycle uni- oneunicycle up- to make something greater, higher, or better upgrade Classical Prefixes (Not a complete list)