Prefix and Suffix with Meanings and Examples
a-
- Meaning: not
- Examples: asynchronous (not synchronous), apolitical.
acro-
- Meaning: high
- Examples: acrobatic (the performance of stunts while in flight in an aircraft), acrophobia.
ante-
- Meaning: before
- Examples: Antemeridian (Before noon), antecede, anteroom.
anti-
- Meaning: Against, opposed to
- Examples: anti-war (against war), antibody, antisocial.
auto-
- Meaning: on its own or one’s own, by its own action
- Examples: automatic (operating with minimal human intervention), autocrat, autograph.
bi-
- Meaning: two
- Examples: bicentric (having two centers), biannual, binoculars.
co-
- Meaning: with, joint
- Examples: coauthor (joint author), coeducation, collision.
contra-
- Meaning: contrasting
- Examples: contralateral (on or relating to the opposite side (of the body), contrary.
counter-
- Meaning: opposite, complementary
- Examples: counteractive (opposing, neutralizing or mitigating an effect by contrary action), counteroffensive.
extra-
- Meaning: beyond, out of scope
- Examples: extrajudicially (beyond the usual course of legal proceedings; legally unwarranted), extraordinary.
hexa-
- Meaning: six
- Examples: hexadecimal (of or pertaining to a number system having 16 as its base), hexagon.
im-
- Meaning: not
- Examples: Impossible (Not capable of occurring), impatient.
in-
- Meaning: not
- Examples: insane (afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement), inappropriate.
intra-
- Meaning: within
- Examples: intragroup (occurring within an institution or community), intrastate .
ir-
- Meaning: not
- Examples: irresponsible (showing lack of care for consequences), irredeemable.
macro-
- Meaning: very large in scale
- Examples: macro instruction (a single computer instruction that results in a series of instructions in machine language), macro economics.
mid-
- Meaning: used in combination to denote the middle
- Examples: midafternoon (The middle part of the afternoon), midway, midterm.
multi-
- Meaning: multiple
- Examples: multibank (a bank holding company owning several banks), multimedia, multicoloured.
non-
- Meaning: not
- Examples: nonacceptance (the act of refusing an offer), non-profitable, non-friction.
per-
- Meaning: for each
- Examples: percent (a proportion in relation to a whole), permanent
pseudo-
- Meaning: fake, false
- Examples: pseudobulb (a solid bulblike enlargement of the stem of some orchids), pseudonym.
re-
- Meaning: again, a new
- Examples: reaccept (consider or hold as true), reappraise, reawake.
un-
- Meaning: not
- Examples: unorganized (Not having or belonging to a structured whole), unbelievable.
up-
- Meaning: up; “increase”
- Examples: upward (spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position).
ad-
- Meaning: movement to advance (expert, better)
- Examples: adulterate.
trans-
- Meaning: across, beyond
- Examples: transnational, transatlantic.
pre-
- Meaning: before in time place or order
- Examples: prelude, preadolescent, precondition.
pro-
- Meaning: favouring, in support of
- Examples: pro-african.
semi-
- Meaning: half, partly
- Examples: semifinal, semicircle, semiconscious.
eu-
- Meaning: good, well
- Examples: euphoria, euphemism.
fore-
- Meaning: in front of
- Examples: forebear, forecast.
Suffixes in English Grammar
-able
- Meaning: able to be
- Examples: excitable, portable, preventable.
-ac
- Meaning: pertaining to
- Examples: cardiac, hemophiliac, maniac.
acity (-ocity)
- Meaning: quality of
- Examples: perspicacity, sagacity, velocity.
-ade
- Meaning: act, action or process
- Examples: product blockade, cavalcade, promenade.
-age
- Meaning: action or process
- Examples: passage, pilgrimage, voyage.
-aholic (-oholic)
- Meaning: one with an obsession for
- Examples: workaholic, shopaholic, alcoholic.
-al
- Meaning: relating to
- Examples: bacterial, theatrical, natural.
-algia
- Meaning: pain
- Examples: neuralgia, nostalgia.
-an (-ian)
- Meaning: relating to, belonging to
- Examples: Italian, urban, African.
-ance
- Meaning: state or quality of
- Examples: brilliance, defiance, annoyance.
-ant
- Meaning: a person who
- Examples: applicant, immigrant, servant.
-ar
- Meaning: of or relating to, being
- Examples: lunar, molecular, solar.
-ard
- Meaning: a person who does an action
- Examples: coward, sluggard, wizard.
-arian
- Meaning: a person who
- Examples: disciplinarian, vegetarian, librarian.
-arium (orium)
- Meaning: a place for
- Examples: terrarium, aquarium, solarium.
-ary
- Meaning: of or relating to
- Examples: literary, military, budgetary.
-ate
- Meaning: state or quality of (adj.)
- Examples: affectionate, desolate, obstinat.
-ation
- Meaning: action or process
- Examples: creation, narration, emancipation.
-ative
- Meaning: tending to (adj.)
- Examples: creative, preservative, talkative.
-cide
- Meaning: act of killing
- Examples: homicide, suicide, genocide.
-cracy
- Meaning: rule, government, power
- Examples: bureaucracy, aristocracy, theocracy.
-crat
- Meaning: someone who has power
- Examples: aristocrat, bureaucrat, technocrat.
-cule
- Meaning: diminutive (making something small)
- Examples: molecule, ridicule.
-cy
- Meaning: state, condition or quality
- Examples: efficiency, privacy, belligerency.
-cycle
- Meaning: circle, wheel
- Examples: bicycle, recycle, tricycle.
-dom
- Meaning: condition of, state, realm
- Examples: boredom, freedom, wisdom.
-dox
- Meaning: belief, praise
- Examples: orthodox, paradox.
-ectomy
- Meaning: surgical removal of
- Examples: appendectomy, hysterectomy.
-ed
- Meaning: past tense
- Examples: called, hammered, laughed.
-ee
- Meaning: receiver, performer
- Examples: nominee, employee, devotee.
-eer
- Meaning: associated with/engaged in
- Examples: engineer, volunteer.
-emia
- Meaning: blood condition
- Examples: anemia, hypoglycemia, leukemia.
-en
- Meaning: makes the word a verb
- Examples: awaken, fasten, strengthen.
-ence
- Meaning: state or condition, action
- Examples: absence, dependence, negligence.
-ency
- Meaning: condition or quality
- Examples: clemency, dependency, efficiency.
-ent
- Meaning: inclined to performing/causing, or one who performs/causes
- Examples: competent, correspondent, absorbent.
-er
- Meaning: more
- Examples: bigger, faster, happier.
-er
- Meaning: action or process
- Examples: flutter, ponder, stutter.
-er
- Meaning: a person who does an action
- Examples: announcer, barber.
-path
- Meaning: one who engages in
- Examples: homeopath, naturopath, psychopath.
pathy
- Meaning: feeling, diseased
- Examples: sympathy, apathy, neuropathy.
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