50 Prefix and Suffix Examples with Meanings

Prefix and Suffix are two different things with the same concept: a group of letters being added to a word. A prefix is a group of letters being added to the beginning of a word for example an, anti, dis etc. A suffix is a group of letters being added to the end of a word. for example ant, ful, able etc.

A prefix modifies a word whereas a suffix changes a word’s meaning.

So, let’s take a look at 50 different prefixes and suffixes with their meanings to understand how they should be used.

50 Prefix Examples with Meanings

Following is a list of common prefix we use in English language to form words by adding them at the start.

Prefix Meaning Words
A- Without/Not Aside, Atheist
An- Without/Not Anarchy, Anesthesia
Anti- Against Antisocial, Anticlimax
Ben- Good Benefit, Benevolence
Bi- Two Bicarbonate, Biannual
Circum- Around Circumference, Circumspection
Com- Together Companion, Commaterial
Contra- Against Contradiction, Contra-trader
De- Opposite Decode, decelerate
Dis- Not Dislike, disqualify
Em- Cause to Embrace, embody
En- Cause to Enable, encounter
Ex- Former Ex-husband, Ex-con
Exo- Outside Exorcism, Exothermic
Fore- Before Forecast, forerunner
Hemi- Half Hemisphere, Hemielliptic
Hyper- Excessive Hypertension, Hyperactive
Hypo- Under Hypothermia, Hypothetical
In- ?n Infield, infiltrate
Im- ?n/Not Imbalance, Impossible
Il- Not Illegitimate, Illogical
Ir- Not Irregular, Irrelevant
Inter- Between Intercept, interact
Macro- Large Macroscopic, Macromolecule
Mal- Bad Malfunction, Malnutrition
Micro- Small Microscopic, Micromolecule
Mid- Middle Midday, midway
Mis- Wrongly Misfire, misunderstand
Mono- One Monogamy, Monotonous
Multi- Many Multimedia, Multitude
Non- Not Nonsense, nonexist
Omni- All Omnipotent, Omnipresent
Over- Over Overlook, overdue
Peri- Around Periscope, Periodontal
Poly- Many Polygamy, Polytechnic
Post- After Postscript, Posthumous
Pre- Before Prefix, preschool
Pro- Forward Proceed, Proclaim
Quad- Four Quadruple, Quadrilateral
Re- Again Regain, return, rebuild
Semi- Half Semifinal, semicircle
Sub- Under Subeditor, subterranean
Super- Above, Superman, superstar
Sym- Together Sympathy, Symphony
Trans- Across Transgression, transport
Tri Three Triceps, Tricycle
Ultra- Excessive Ultrafine, Ultrabright
Un- Not Unfriendly, Unappealing
Under- Under Understand, Underestimate
Uni- One Unicellular, Unicycle

50 Suffix Examples with Meanings

Following is a list of some common suffixes we use in English by adding them at the end of the word.

Suffix Meaning Words
-able Capable of something Predictable, Disable
-al Pertaining to National, Personal
-age A result Wreckage, Lineage
-ance An action Resistance, Importance
-ant Characterized by Abundant, Accusant
-ar Pertaining to Lunar, Particular
-ary Relating to Disciplinary, Secretary
-ate Having the characteristics Fortunate, Duplicate
-ed Past tense of a verb Played, Yelled
-ee A person Interviewee, Trainee
-eer Associated with something Volunteer, Auctioneer
-en To become something Soften, Straighten
-ence An action/state Dependence, Influence
-ency An action/state Dependency, Tendency
-ent Performing an action Frequent, Absent
-er A characteristic Faster, Slower
-es Plural Dishes, Fishes
-est A degree of a word Honest, Modest
-fication Causing something Modification, Justification
-ful Notable of Beautiful, Wonderful
-fy To make Personify, Intensify
-ian A person Electrician, Utilitarian
-ible Capable of being Sensible, Responsible
-ic Relating to Democratic, Enthusiastic
-ing An action Absorbing, Reading
-ion A process Instrumentation, Calibration
-ise To cause/become Advertise, Advise
-ish A little Blemish, Extinguish
-ism A condition Nationalism, Majoritarianism
-ist A person Pacifist, Perfectionist
-ity A condition of Responsibility, Sentimentality
-ive Nature of Reconstructive, Discriminative
-ize To cause/become Conceptualize, Contextualize
-less Without Careless, Hopeless
-like Similar to Childlike, Lifelike
-logy Character of Eulogy, Analogy
-ly A way something is done Accidentally, Angrily
-ment An action/state Amusement, Punishment
-ness A state Baldness, Dryness
-or A person Abductor, Receptor
-ous Full of something Disastrous, Fabulous
-s Plural Smiles, Hopes
-ship A position Relationship, Sportsmanship
-sion A state Depression, Repression
-some A tendency Loathsome, Gruesome
-th Condition/Number-related Seventh, Depth
-tion A state Solution, Attraction
-ward In a certain direction Forward, Downward
-wise Relating to Likewise, Clockwise
-y Inclined to Funny, Icy

More Resources Related to Prefix and Suffixes

Final Words to Conclude

So, these were 50 different prefixes and suffixes with their meanings and examples. All levels of learners can benefit by this list. For beginners, this might be a little difficult in the beginning, but as you move on, it becomes easier.

Keep exploring EnglishBix for more quality resources on word formation and other grammar topics.

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