THE 20 MOST COMMON PREFIXES IN ACADEMIC TEXTS

Prefix Meaning Examples

1. un- not; opposite uncover, unlock, unsafe
2. re- again; back rewrite, reread, return
3.in-, im-, ir-, not; into incorrect, insert, inexpensive, illegal, irregular, inability
i
4. dis- not, away, apart, negative disagree, discord, discomfort, discontent, distrust
5. en-, em- cause to enjoy, endure, enlighten, entail
6. non- not nonsense, nonverbal, nonstick, nonspecific
7. in-, im- in, into, not invade, implant, imperfect, immoral, inedible, incapable
8. over- too much overload, overdo, overact, overboard, overdose
9. mis- wrongly misjudge, misinterpret, misguided, mismatch, misplace
10. sub- under submarine, subtext, substandard, subsitute, subversive
11. pre- before preview, pretest, prevent, preplan
12. inter- between, among interstate, international, intermission, intermingle, interface
13 fore- before foreshadow, foresight, foreseeable, forecast, foreground
14. de-, dis- opposite of, not depose, detour, dehydrated, decaffeinated, discord,
discomfort, disengage
15. trans- across; move between transatlantic, transcend, transfer, transact, transport
16. super- above supersonic, superstar, supernatural, superstore
17. semi- half semicircle, semiprecious, semicolon, semifinal
18. anti- against antifreeze, antithesis, antitrust, antidote, antisocial
19. mid- middle midterm, Midwest, midstream, midway, midnight
20. under- too little; not enough underfed, underdog, underestimate, underage

1
OTHER COMMON PREFIXES

Prefix Meaning Examples

ante- before antebellum, antecedent, anterior
be- to, completely belittle, befriend, bejeweled
bene- good, well beneficial, benefit, benediction, benevolent
circum- around, about circumference, circumvent
co-, com-, together, with cooperate, copilot, committee, commit, concur,
con-, col- concert, collide, collaborate, colleague
dia- across, through diagonal, diameter, diagnostic
ex- out, from expel, excavate, exhale
homo- same, alike homonym, homogenize, homophone
hyper- over, above, excessive hyperactive, hypervenilate, hypercritical, hyperthermia
mal- bad, evil malicious, maladjusted, malnuitrition
micro- small microscopic, microcosm, microbiology, microwave
multi- many, much multiply, multigrain, multiple
para- beside, alongside parparofessional, paralegal
poly- many, much polygon, polyester
post- after, behind postwar, posterior, postdate
2pro- forward, earlier, prior to project, proceed, progress
retro- back, backward retroactive, retrogression
tele- distant telephone, telegraph, television
therm- heat, warm thermostat, thermal
trans- across; move between transatlantic, transcend, transfer, transact, transport
uni- one, single universe, unicycle, unicorn

Center for Development and Learning ● www.cdl.org ● learn@cdl.org ● (504) 840-9786 2

 COMMON NUMBER PREFIXES
Suffix Meaning Examples
-s, -es
Greek Latin
more than oneMeaning hotels, amendments, wishes,Examplesprefixes
plural
monotone, monopoly, monologue, monogamy,
-ed
mono- uni- in the past 1 walked, jumped,
monochrome, helped
monograph, monomial, monotheism,
past tense
universe, uniform, unicorn
-ing
in the present2 biology, jumping,
walking, bicycle, dichotomy,
helping bilingual, binary, bimonthly,
di-
present tense bi-, du-, duo-
binoculars, duo, duet, duel
-ate complicate, hesitate, eradicate, placate, demonstrate, procrastinate,
tri-
verb tri- become 3 tricycle, triad, triathlon, triangle, tripod, triumvirate, triple
ruminate
-en quadri-, enlighten,
tetrameter,tighten,
quadrilateral,
frighten,
quadriplegic,
brighten, dampen,
quadrangle,
fasten, heighten,
tetra- 4
become, to make
verb quart- quadruple,
loosen, quarter, quarterly, quartet, quartile
straighten
-ify,
penta--fy quin-make or become
5 pentameter,
terrify, verify,pentagon, quintet,rectify,
clarify, dignify, quintuplet, quintuplicate
magnify, classify
verb
hexa--ise
-ize, sext- 6 hexagon, hexameter,
hypnotize, sextuplet,
fertilize, civilize, sextet, sextagenarian
rationalize, criticize, categorize,
to make; to become
verb polarize, modernize, chastise, italicise, romanticize
septem-,
hepta-
-ly 7 heptagon,
quickly, heptameter,
easily, heptagon, septuagenarian
happily, majestically, nonchalantly, literally, barely,
septi-
how something is
adverb carefully, abruptly
octo- octa-, oct- 8 octagon, octogenarian, octopus, octahedron, octant
-acy privacy, occupancy, democracy, buoyancy, saliency, literacy,
state or quality
noun
ennea- novem- 9 novena secretly, politely, rapidly
-ance, -ence maintenance, eminence, prominence, dominance, coincidence,
state or quality of
noun
deca-, deci-, decem- 10 decade, decagon, decahedron, decalogue, decimal, decadence,
decibelcadence
-dom hemisphere, semicircle, semicolon,
hemi- semi-place or state half
of being freedom, kingdom, wisdom, fiefdom,semifinal,
boredom,semiannual,
martyrdom
noun semester, semisweet
-er, -or, -ist, trainer,
polygon,teacher, toaster,
polygamy, mentor,polymer,
polyester, survivor,polynomial,
orator, governor, pianist,
-ian,
poly--eer multi- one who; what/that/which
many specialist, dentist, librarian,
multiply, multifaceted, magician,multitude,
multilingual, technician, engineer, pioneer
noun multivitamin, multiple
-ism communism, socialism, pragmatism, realism, feudalism, racism,
hecto- doctrine,
cent-, cente- belief
100 cent, centennial, centurion, centipede, centenary, cent
noun Catholicism, Buddhism, capitalism
-ist milli-, 1000 kilogram,
chemist, kilometer,
socialist, biologist, kilobyte,
publicist, realist, romanticist,
one who
kilo-
noun mille- pragmatist milligram, millisecond,
-ity, -ty millennium
veracity, honesty, clarity, laxity, sanity, vanity, rigidity, velocity,
quality of
noun curiosity, responsibility
-ment argument, judgment, apartment, contentment, resentment,
condition of
noun basement
-ness heaviness, happiness, openness, harshness, cleanliness,
state of being
noun carelessness
-ion, -sion,
concession, transition, action, erosion, vision, invitation, conclusion,
-tion state of being; quality; act
condemnation
noun

Center for Development and Learning ● www.cdl.org ● learn@cdl.org ● (504) 840-9786 3

o-logy
study of biology, mineralogy, ecology
noun
-age
result of an action marriage, pilgrimage
noun
-hood
condition of being neighborhood, falsehood, childhood
noun
-ary place for, collection of;
glossary, library, secretary, dignitary
noun one who
-ship art or skill of, condition,
leadership, citizenship, ownership, companionship, friendship
noun rank, group of
-able, -ible able to be, worthy of, comfortable, likable, enjoyable, honorable, predictable, terrible,
adjective capable of sensible, incredible, edible, visible
-ful fanciful, beautiful, wonderful, colorful, eventful, fearful, hateful,
notable for, full of
adjective resentful
-ic, -al, -ial, -ical energetic, historic, caustic, volcanic, refusal, regional, proposal,
adjective, noun pertaining to, relating to fatal, cordial, territorial, spatial, social, comical, historical,
magical, logical, rehearsal
-ious, -ous characterized by, full of,
nutritious, portentous, pretentious, curious, furious, prosperous
adjective having
-ish
having the quality of fiendish, childish, selfish, boyish
adjective
-ive having the nature of,
creative, festive, responsive, positive, negative, inventive
adjective somewhat like
-less endless, fruitless, worthless, powerless, bottomless, relentless,
without
adjective selfless
-y, -ly characterized by; act in a sleazy, pudgy, funny, foggy, risky, milky, sudsy, curly,
adjective way that crazy, shiny, manly, heavenly

Center for Development and Learning ● www.cdl.org ● learn@cdl.org ● (504) 840-9786 4