Prefixes and Suffixes – Definition and Examples in English

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Prefixes and Suffixes in English! Learn the definition, meaning, and examples of suffixes and prefixes in English.

Prefixes and Suffixes Definition

What is A Prefix?

A prefix is a group of letters which we add to the beginning of a word to make a new word with a different meaning. Prefixes can, for example, create a new word opposite in meaning to the word the prefix is attached to. The list below shows common prefixes in English that you should know.  

What is A Suffix?

A suffix is a group of letters placed at the end of a word to make a new word. In this article, you will find a list of suffix with their meaning and examples in English.

Prefixes and Suffixes List in English

List of Prefixes

Here is the list of common prefixes in English with their meaning:

a-, an-

• Meaning: without, lack of, not

ante-

• Meaning: before, earlier, in front of

anti-

• Meaning: against, opposite of

auto-

• Meaning: self, same

circum-

• Meaning: around, about

co-

• Meaning: with, together

com-, con-

• Meaning: together, with

contra-, contro-

• Meaning: against, opposite

de-

• Meaning: down, off, away from

dis-

• Meaning: not, apart, away

en-

• Meaning: put into, cover with

ex-

• Meaning: out of, from, former

extra-

• Meaning: beyond, outside, more than

hetero-

• Meaning: different, other

homo-, homeo-

• Meaning: same, alike

hyper-

• Meaning: over, more, beyond

il-, im-, in-, ir-

• Meaning: not, without

inter-

• Meaning: between, among

intra-, intro-

• Meaning: within, inside

macro-

• Meaning: large, prominent

micro-

• Meaning: very small

mono-

• Meaning: one, single, alone

non-

• Meaning: not, without

omni-

• Meaning: all, every

post-

• Meaning: after, behind

pre-, pro-

• Meaning: before, forward

sub-

• Meaning: under, lower

sym-, syn-

• Meaning: same time, together

tele-

• Meaning: from or over a distance

trans-

• Meaning: across, beyond, through

tri-

• Meaning: three, every third

un-

• Meaning: not, lacking, opposite of

uni-

• Meaning: one, single

up-

• Meaning: to the top or north, higher/better

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List of Suffixes

Here is the list of common suffixes in English with their meaning:

–age

• Meaning: A result

–ance

• Meaning: An action or state

-ant

• Meaning: A person

-ee

• Meaning: A person

-ence

• Meaning: An action or state

-er/or

• Meaning: A person

–ery

• Meaning: A type or place of work

–ess

• Meaning: Makes a feminine form

-ful

• Meaning: As much as will fill

–ing

• Meaning: An action or result

–ion

• Meaning: A process, state or result

-ism

• Meaning: A belief or condition

-able

• Meaning: Able to be

-en

• Meaning: Made of

-ible

• Meaning: Ability

-ish

• Meaning: A little

-less

• Meaning: Without

-like

• Meaning: Similar to, like

-ous

• Meaning: Full of

-some

• Meaning: A tendency to

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