Prefixes
NOTE:
Some prefixes have
more than one
meaning. For example,
the prefix dis- can
mean both not and
away.
A dissatisfied
customer is one
who is not happy.
A displaced person
is one who has had
to move away from
his or her normal
place.
A prefix is a group of letters that can be added to the beginning
of a word or root to make a new word. Knowing the meanings
of prefixes can help you at least partly understand some
unknown words.

Some Common Prefixes

anti-, counter -, contra -: against, opposing, opposed to
An antidiscrimination policy opposes discrimination.
Counterproductive activities are not productive.
Contraband materials are against the law.

auto-: self
A car with automatic shift changes gears by itself.
To write your autobiography is to write your own life
story.

bene-, eu-: good
Something that is beneficial is good.
In a eulogy, someone says good things about a person
who has died.

hydra-, hydro-: water
Hydraulic brakes are operated with fluid.
Plants grown hydroponically are grown in water.

macro-: large, long, excessive
A macrobiotic diet consists primarily of grains and
vegetables; it is said to promote long life.
A macrocyte is an abnormally large red blood cell.

micro-: very or extremely small
A mircoameter is an instrument for measuring extremely
small electric currents.
A micron is one millionth of a meter.

mis-: wrong(ly) or incorrect(ly)
A mishap occurs when something goes wrong.
To misstep is to move incorrectly.

neo-: new
A neo-natal clinic is for newborn babies.
Neoplasty is plastic surgery: the art and science of
making skin look new.

omni-, pan-: all, every
To be omniscient is to know everything.
Some geologists believe the continents were one
millions of years ago; they call that continent Pangea.  

ortho-: correct, right, true, straight
Orthoepy is the study of correct pronunciation.
An orthodontist straightens teeth.

prim-: first, early
The primary grades are the first that children attend.
One's primogenitor is his or her first ancestor.


pro-: for, forward
A person who is pro-war believes that war can solve
problems.
To propose an idea is to put it forward.

pseudo-: false
A pseudonym is a false name.
Pseudo-psychology is false psychology.
Number Prefixes
uni-, mono-: one
bi-, di-, du-: two
tri- : three
quadr-, tetra-: four
quin-, pent-: five
sex-, hex-: six
sept-, hept-: seven
oct-: eight
non-, nov-. ennea-:
nine
dec-, deci: ten
cent-, hect-: one
hundred
mill-, milli-, kilo-:
one thousand  
The fact that the
biggest fish always
seem to get away does
not detract, or take
away from, enjoyment
of the sport.
Relationship Prefixes
ant-, anti-: against,
opposite
con-, syn-: with,
together, alike
hetero-: different
homo-: same
inter-: between, among
intra-: within
Direction Prefixes
ab-: from, away, down
from
ad -: to, toward;
against
circum-, peri-: around,
about
de-: from, down from,
down
dis-: away, away from
ex-: out, out from
in-: to, toward, into
pro-: forward, before
re-: back, backward,
again
se-: away, apart
sub-: under, beneath
trans-: across, beyond
A fish-tale is
synonymous with a
lie; they both mean
the same thing.
Quantity Prefixes
equ-: equal
multi-, poly-: many
semi-, demi-, hemi-:
half, less
super-, supra-, hyper-,
ultra-: beyond,
excessive, exceeding
Fish-tales often involve
hyperbole -
exaggeration.
Prefixes Meaning
'Not'
il-, im-, in-, ir-, non-,
un-
Time Prefixes
post-: after
pre-, ante-: before
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