Prefix and Suffix 2

Structural Analysis: Common Word Parts

Following is a list of some common prefixes, roots, and suffixes along with their
meanings and examples of words which use them. Use these word parts to help you
approximate the meanings of unknown words.

Prefixes

Word Part Meaning Examples

Prefixes with negative meaning atypical, anaerobic
antifreeze, antibiotic
a; an not or without disown, disconnect
anti against; opposite inactive, immature
dis not; opposite illegal, irresponsible
in, im not misspelled, misnomer
il, ir not nonessential, nonverbal
mis wrong unavailable, undecided
non not
un not postgraduate, postnatal
precondition, predisposed
Prefixes that change time reactivate, reposition
retrogress, retroactive
post after
pre before abduction; amoral
re again; back circuit, circumference
retro backward descend, deescalate
exit, expand, exorcism
Prefixes that concern placement or direction interview, intervene
intrastate, intravenous
ab; a away from permeate, perfume
circum around projection, promote
de down subnormal, submarine
ex; exo out; no longer synagogue, synonym
inter between superhuman, supersonic
intra within transcend, transport
per through
pro forward; for monogram, monolith
sub below duet, duplex
syn together multiple, multinational
super above unicycle, uniform
trans across bicycle, binary
trimester, tricycle
Prefixes that relate to numbers quadrant, quadruple
polymer, polygon
mono one millimeter, milligram
duo two
multi many
uni one
bi two; twice
tri three
quad four
poly many
milli one thousandth

centi one hundredth centimeter, centigram
kilo thousand kilometer, kilogram

Miscellaneous prefixes self automatic, autobiography
life biography, biology
auto away; down depress, detach
bio people demographics, democracy
de not; no longer; away distance
demo good; pleasant euphonious, eulogy
dis different, mixed heterogeneous, heterosexual
eu man; same homogenous, homicide
hetero excessive hyperactive, hypersensitive
homo below; under hypodermic, hypoglycemic
hyper large macrocosm, macroscopic
hypo small microcosm, microscope
macro not nonbeliever, nonsense
micro back; again return, renegotiate
non partly semicircle, semitransparent
re
semi

Word Part Roots Examples

audi Meaning audition, audience
bio biology, bionics
cide to hear suicide, homicide
cred life incredible, credibility
dic to kill dictate, dictionary
duc to believe educator, abduct
graph to speak; tell graphology, autograph
logy lead psychology, geology
path write psychopath, pathologist
phobia study of claustrophobia, agoraphobia
phono suffer; disease megaphone, microphone
port fear portable, transport
spect sound spectator, spectacles
carry
look; see

Suffixes

Word Part Examples

Noun suffixes – usually mean the state of; the quality of

ance attendance, disappearance
cracy democracy, theocracy
cy constancy, irrelevancy
ence preference, inference
ful grateful, suspenseful
ion agitation, migration
ism truism, spiritualism

ity/ty superiority, loyalty
ment astonishment, excitement
ness greatness, fitness

Noun suffixes that refer to a person

able durable, comfortable
ary visionary, secretary
ee nominee, employee
er/or teacher, instructor
ess acress, seamstress
est fullest, happiest
ible incredible, feasible
ist pharmacist, egotist

Verb suffixes – usually mean characterized by

ate stimulate, consolidate
ify classify, simplify
ize dramatize, capitalize