Common Prefixes

Some Common Prefixes:

PREFIX	MEANING	EXAMPLES
a-	not, without	achromatic, asymmetric, asymptomatic, atyptical
ab-	away, from	abduct, abnormal
acro-	high or top	acrobat, acronym, acrophobia
ambi-	both	ambidextrous, ambiguous, ambivalence
amphi-	both, on two sides	amphibian, amphitheater
ante-	before	anterior, antediluvian (before the flood)
anti-	against, opposite	antibody, antisocial, antifreeze, antivirus
aqua-	water	aquamarine, aquarium
arch-	highest, worst	archangel, archenemy, archetype
astro-	star	astrology, astronomer, astrophysics
auto-	self	autobiography, automatic, automobile, autonomy
be-	covered with, equipped with	bedazzle, bedevil, bewitch
bi-	two	biannual, bicycle, bifocals, bisect, bivalve, biweekly
bio-	life	biology, biography
centi-	one hundredth, hundred	centigrade, centimeter, centipede
co-	with, joint	coordinate, cooperate, co-worker
com-	with, together	combine, command, commend
con-	with, together	concord, condemn, condescend, confide, conserve
contra-	against, opposite	contradict
counter-	against, in opposition to	counteract, counterclockwise, counterpart, counterproductive
de-	from, down, away reverse, opposite	decode, decrease, deflate, degenerate, depress
dec-	ten	decade, decathlon, December
deci-	one tenth	deciliter, decimal, decimate
demi-	half	demigod, demilune, demitasse
di-	two	dicot, dioxide
dia-	across, between, through	diagnose, diagonal, dialogue, dialect, diameter
dis-	not, opposite, reverse, away	disagree, disallow, disarray, disconnect, disloyal, disrespect
dodeca-	twelve	dodecahedron
dorm-	sleep	dormant, dormitory
ec-	out of, outside	eclectic, eclipse
eco-	relating to the economy or the environment	ecology, economics, ecosphere
en-	to make into, to put into	encrypt, enmesh
em-	to make into, to put into	empower
epi-	above, upon, in addition	epicenter, epidemic, epidermis, epigraph, episode, epitome
equi-	equal	equidistant, equilateral, equinox
ex-	out of, away from, lacking, former	exceed, exclusive, exhale, explosion, ex-wife
extra-	beyond	extracurricular, extraordinary, extrapolate
exo-	external, outside of	exoskeleton, exosphere
fin-	end	final, finale, finish
fore-	before	forearm, forecast, forerunner, foresee
geo-	earth	geocentric, geography, geology, geometry
giga-	billion, giant	gigabyte
hemi-	half	hemisphere
hemo-	blood	hemophilia, hemorrhage
hept-	seven	heptagon
hex-/hexa-	six	hexagon, hexahedron, hexapod
hydro-	water	hydrocarbon, hydroelectric, hydrofoil, hydrology
hyper-	above	hyperactive, hyperbole, hyperthermia
hypo-	below	hypodermic, hypoglycemia, hypothermia
il-	not	illegal, illogical
im-	not, without	impossible, improper, impure
in-	not, without	inaction, incapable, invisible
inter-	between, among	interact, interchange, interstate
ir-	not	irregular, irrelevant, irradiate
iso-	equal	isobar, isosceles
macro-	huge	macrobiotic, macroscopic
magn-	great	magnify, magnanimous, magnificent, magnum
mal-	bad	malady, malicious, malnourished
mega-	great, million	megaphone, megabyte, megalomania, megalopolis, megaton
micro-	tiny, one millionth	microcosm, micrometer, microscope, microwave
mid-	middle	midlife, midnight
milli-	one thousandth, thousand	milliliter, millimeter, millipede
mini-	small	minicam, miniskirt
mis-	bad, wrong	misinform, misinterpret, mislead, misplace, mistake
mono-	one	monocle, monologue, monopoly, monorail, monotone
multi-	many, much	multifaceted, multilingual, multinational, multitudes
nano-	one billionth	nanosecond, nanometer
neo-	new	neolithic, neonate, neophyte
non-	not	nondescript, nonexistent, nonfat, nonfiction, nonsense
nona-	nine	nonagon
nov-	new	nova, novel, novice
oct-	eight	octagon, octave, octopus
out-	better, beyond	outbound, outcome, outpost, outrun
omni-	all, every	omnipotent, omniscient, omnivorous
over-	excessive	overcoat, overcome, overdo, overeat, overpass, overreact, overtime, overwork
para-	beside, beyond, distinct from	paradox, paragraph, parallel, paramedic, paranormal, paraphrase
ped-	foot	pedal, pedestrian, pedigree, peduncle
penta-	five	pentagon, pentameter, pentathlon
per-	through, completely	percent, percussion, perfect, perturb, pervade
peri-	around	perihelion, periscope, perimeter
philo-	love	philanthropy, philosophy
photo-	light	photograph, photosynthesis, photon
pod-	foot	podiatry, podium
poly-	many	polyglot, polyhedron, polygon, polymer, polymorphous
post-	after	postpone, postoperative
pre-	before	prefix, preheat, prehistory, premature
pro-	for, forward, before	proactive, produce, profess, program, progress, propel
proto-	first	protocol, protoplasm, prototype
pseudo-	false	pseudonym, pseudoscience
pyro-	fire	pyroclastic, pyromaniac, pyrotechnics
quadr-	four	quadrangle, quadratic, quadruple, quadruplet
quasi-	almost, partly	quasiparticle
quint-	five	quintet, quintuplet
re-	again, back	react, reappear, reform, report, rerun, retrieve, revert, revise
retro-	backwards	retrograde, retrospect
semi-	half, partial	semiannual, semicircle
sept-	seven	septillion
sub-	below, under	submarine, submerge, substandard
suf-	before, beyond, from under	suffix, suffocate, suffuse
super-	over, beyond	superintendent, supersonic, supervisor, superpower
sur-	above, beyond	surface, surreal, surrender
sym-	together	symbiosis, symbol, symmetry, symphony
tele-	from afar	telegraph, telephone, telepathy, telescope
tetra-	four	tetrahedron
therm-	heat	thermal, thermometer, thermostat
trans-	across	transatlantic, transcribe, transfer, transform
tri-	three	triangle, triathlon, tricycle, trilateral
ultra-	beyond	ultramarine, ultraviolet
un-	against, not, opposite	unable, undo, unequal, unusual, untie
under-	below, insufficient	underachieve, underfed, underground, underpass
uni-	one	unicycle, uniform, universe
up-	greater, higher	upgrade, uplift, upturn
with-	against	withdraw, withhold, without, withstand

Prefix and Suffix Activities and Worksheets

Match Prefixes to Root Words #1 Match each prefix to a root word to make a common word. Then circle the prefixes and define them. Or go to the answers.

Match Prefixes to Root Words #2 Match each prefix to a root word to make a common word. Then circle the prefixes and define them. Or go to the answers.

Match Prefixes to Root Words #3 Match each prefix to a root word to make a common word. Then circle the prefixes and define them. Or go to the answers.

Fill in the Prefixes #1 Use the bank of prefixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. The prefixes are: de-, dis-, ex-, il-, im-, in-, mis-, non-, pre-, re-, un-, and with-. Or go to the answers.

Fill in the Prefixes #2 Use the bank of prefixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. The prefixes are: de-, dis-, ex-, im-, in-, mis-, non-, pre-, pro-, re-, un-, and uni-. Or go to the answers.

Fill in the Prefixes and Suffixes #1 Use the bank of prefixes and suffixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. Or go to the answers.

Fill in the Prefixes and Suffixes #2 Use the bank of prefixes and suffixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. Or go to the answers.

Write Words Given Prefixes #1 For each prefix, write a word or words that begins with that prefix. Write as many as you can! The prefixes are: anti-, de-, dis-, ex-, il-, im-, in-, non-, over-, pre-, re-, sub-, tri-, un-, with-. Or go to sample answers.

Write Words Given Prefixes #2 For each prefix, write a word or words that begins with that prefix. Write as many as you can! The prefixes are: con-, com-, geo-, inter-, mal-, mega-, micro-, mis-, para-, poly-, over-, post-, tele-, therm-, trans-. Or go to sample answers.

Write Words Given Prefixes #3 For each prefix, write a word or words that begins with that prefix. Write as many as you can! The prefixes are: auto-, bi-, bio-, centi-, counter-, fore-, inter-, mid-, milli-, out-, para-, photo-, semi-, under-, uni-. Or go to sample answers.

Write Words Given Prefixes For each prefix, write its definition, and find as many words as you can that begin with that prefix. The prefixes are: anti-, auto-, counter-, de-, dis-, ex-, il-, in-, mis-, non-, over-, pre-, pro-, re-, un-. Or go to sample answers.

Write Words Given Number Prefixes For each number prefix, write its definition, and find as many words as you can that begin with that prefix. The prefixes are: bi-, centi-, dec-, deci-, hexa-, milli-, mono-, multi-, nona-, penta-, poly-, quadra-, quint-, tri-, uni-. Or go to sample answers.

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