prefix-

meaning of the prefix
examples of words using this prefix
comments regarding this prefix

a-

lacking, missing something
asymmetry, atypical, asynchronous, asymmetric, asexual

astro-

of the stars
astronomy, astronomical, astronomer, astrology, astronaut, astrologer, astrological, astrophysics

aer(o)-

of the air
aerospace, aeroplane, aerodynamic, aerodynamics, aero-engines, aerial, aerobics, aerobic, aerosol, aerodrome, aerobatic, aeronautics, aeration, aeronautical, aerobically

ambi-

two, both, double
ambidextrous, ambiguity, ambiguous, ambivalent, ambivalence, ambiguously

ante-

before, in front of
antenatal, ante-room, antechamber, anterior, antecedents, antediluvian

anti-

against, opposed to
antislavery, anti-semitism, anti-social, anti-government, antiseptic, anti-aircraft, anti-communist, anti-fascist, anti-racist, anti-apartheid, anti-war, anti-terrorist, anti-nuclear, antiracism, anti-inflammatory, anti-competitive, anti-climax, anti-inflation, ant-clockwise, antibody, antibiotics, antithesis, antidote, antipathy, antithetical

arch-

highest, to the highest degree, worst
archbishop, archdeacons, arch-enemy, arch-rivals, arch-conservative, arch-villain

audio-

of sound, hearing
audiovisual, audiometric, audiology

auto-

self
autobiography, automobile, autobiographical, automotive, autopilot, automatically, automatic, autonomy, autonomous, automated, automation, autocratic, autocracy, autonomously

bi-

two
bilingual, bicycles, bisexual, bicentenary, biplane, bi-monthly, bidirectional, bipartisan, bilaterally, bi-annual, bipedal, bi-weekly, binoculars, bifurcation, bisected

bio-

living, of life
biological, biology, biography, biochemical, biotechnology, biologists, biographer, biomass, biodiversity, biomedical, biosphere, biodegradable, biogas, biochemists, biofuels, biomechanical, biophysics

co-

together, with, joint
co-operation, co-operative, co-ordination, co-operate, co-ordinated, coincided, co-ordinator, correspondent, correspondence, collaboration, coherent, collision, correlated, collaborative, coherence, coefficient, correspondingly

contra-

against, opposed to
contraception, contraceptive, contrariwise, contraindicated, contraindications, contra-flow, contrast, contradiction, contradictory, contradict, contravene, contravention

counter-

against, opposite, opposed to
counteract, counter-productive, counter-attack, counterclaim, counter-revolutionary, counterbalance, counter-culture, counter-revolution, counterweight, counter-insurgency, counter-argument, counter-offensive, counter-offer, counter-intelligence, counter-measures, counterparts

de-

to reverse an action
decomposed, dehydrated, detoxification, decode, debugging. deregulated, demobilisation, destabilization, destabilizing

di-

two
dioxide, dipole, dimorphism, diversity, diverse, diode

dia-

across, through
diameter, diagonal, diagonally, diaphragm, dialogue, diametrically

dis-

lack of, the opposite of, not
disorder, disability, disadvantages, disagreement, disagree, disappearance, disbelief, disliked, dissatisfaction, disadvantaged, disapproval, disregard, dissatisfied, disarmament, disqualified

equi-

same, equal
equivalent, equivalence, equilateral, equidistant, equilibrium, equitable, equivocal, equitably

ex-

former, previous
ex-wife, ex-husband, ex-soviet, ex-servicemen, ex-service, ex- army, ex-soldier, ex-president, ex-girlfriend, ex-employee, ex-boyfriend, ex-minister, ex-king, ex-chairman

extra-

outside, beyond, very
extraordinary, extraordinarily, extracellular, extra-mural, extra-curricular, extra-marital, extraterrestrial, extra-time, extrajudicial, extra-sensory, extradition, extrapolation, extraneous, extrapolate

fore-

before, in front of
foreground, foresee, forearm, foresight, forestall, forefathers, forewarned, foreshore, foretaste, forecast, forehead, forefront, forefinger, forerunner, forecourt, foreword, forebears, foreboding, foregone, foreshadowed

geo-

of the earth
geography, geographical, geological, geology, geologist, geographer, geophysical, geomorphology, geothermal, geochemical, geometric, geometry

hyper-

extreme, exaggerated
hypertension, hyperactive, hypersensitive, hypersensitivity, hyperactivity, hyperventilation, hyperinflation, hypermarket

in-

the opposite of, not
informal, inadequate, insufficient, inappropriate, invisible, incredible, incapable, invalid, incomplete, inability, inequality

inter-

between, among
international, interaction, interactive, internationally, interact, inter-war, intercity, interrelated, intergovernmental, intersection, interplay, interdependence, interview, interpretation, intervention, interface, interference, intermediate, interval, interim, interpret, intervene, interfere, interruption, interviewer, interrupt, interpreter, interfering, interchange, intermittent

intra-

inside
intravenous, intracellular, intravenously, intra-industry, intra-oceanic, intra-regional

mal-

bad, badly
malnutrition, malpractice, maladministration, malfunction, malnourished, malformations, maltreatment

mini-

small
minibus, mini-bar, minigrams, minicomputer, mini-series, mini-skirt, minicab, minigolf, mini-boom, mini-breaks

mis-

wrongly, badly
misunderstanding, misuse, misfortune, misconduct, misplaced, mistrust, misinterpret, misunderstand

mono-

one
monopoly, monoxide, monotonous, monograph, monolithic, monochrome, monopolistic, monotony, monologue, monogamous, monotone, monogamy, monocle, monotheism, monolingual, monosyllables

multi-

many
multimedia, multinational, multiparty, multilateral, multi-million, multidisciplinary, multicultural, multiprocessing, multi-coloured, multi-user, multi-purpose, multi-racial, multi-storey, multi-millionaire, multi-faceted, multilingual, multi-ethnic, multiple, multiply, multitude, multiplier, multiplicity, multiplication

neo-

new
neo-classical, neonatal, neo-nazi, neo-marxist, neo-fascist, neo-gothic, neo-conservative, neoclassicism, neo-colonialism, neo-liberal, neolithic, neophyte, neologism

non-

not
non-existent, non, executive, non-stop, non-verbal, non-aligned, non-manual, non-standard, non-aggression

out-

do better, go beyond
outrun, outpaced, outwitted, outlast, outstrip, outlive, outmanoeuvred, outperform, outgrow, outnumber, outflank

over-

exceed, exaggerate, go beyond
overlap, overthrow, overflow, overweight, overdue, overcrowded, overdose, overgrown, overloaded, overjoyed

pan-

all, world-wide
pan-European, pan-Africanist, pan-Arab, pan-African, pan-American, panorama, panoramic

physio-

of the body
physiological, physiology, physiotherapist, physiotherapy, physiologically, physiologist, physiognomy, physiochemical

poly-

many
polygamy, polycarbonate, polysyllabic, polytechnic, polymer, polythene, polystyrene, polygon, polynomial, polymorphism, polyphonic, polyphony, polygonal, polyglot

post-

after
post-war, postgraduate, postmodern, postmodernism, post-industrial, postnatal, post-election, postdoctoral, post-colonial, post-retirement, post-revolutionary, post-glacial, post-tax,postponed, postscript, postponement, posterior, posterity, post-mortem, posthumous, postprandial, postoperative

pre-

before
premature, pre-tax, pre-war, prehistoric, prerequisite, preview, pre-school, pre-existing, presupposition, precondition, pre-election, pre-arranged, pre-recorded, pre-determined, predict, predecessor, preparation, precedent, precautions, preface, preventive, preparatory, prelude, precedence, premise, precursor, presuppose, precede

pro-

in favour of
pro-democracy, pro-active, pro-government, pro-life, pro-independence, pro-western, pro-European, pro-social, pro-choice, pro-nuclear

proto-

first, original
prototype, prototypical, proto-fish, protoplasm, protozoan

pseudo-

false, imitation
pseudo-scientific, pseudo-science, pseudo-religious, pseudo-history, pseudo-academic, pseudo-intellectual

psycho-

of the mind
psychological, psychology, psychologist, psychoanalysis, psychologically, psychoanalytic, psychotic, psychosis, psychotherapy, psychosomatic

re-

again, back
renewed, review, recycling, rebuilt, repayment, reproduced, reproductive, regeneration, reorganisation, regain, rebuilding, reunion, replay, renew, relocation, renamed, restructure

semi-

half
semi-final, semiconductor, semi-detached, semi-skilled, semi-circular, semi-automatic, semi-circle, semi-autonomous, semi-darkness, semitone, semi-finalists, semi-permanent, semi-official, semi-literate, semi-professional, semi-independent, semi-conscious

sub-

lower, less than, lower in importance or rank
subordinate, subsection, submarine, subconscious, subordination, subset, subdivided, subcommittee, sub-contractors, subterranean, subunits, subway

super-

greater, above, better
supermarket, supernatural, superimposed, superstar, superego, superstructure, superpower, superstore, superhuman, supercomputer, supersonic, superglue

sur-

over, above
surmounted, surpassed, surrealist, surrealism, surreal, surcharge, surpass, surmount, surtax

techno-

of applied science
technology, technological, technologies, technologically, technologist, technocrat, technocratic

thermo-

of heat, temperature
thermometer, thermostat, thermodynamics, thermonuclear, thermodynamic, thermostatic, thermostatically, thermoplastic

trans-

across, from one state to another
transformation, transform, transplant, transnational, transplantation, transatlantic, transport, transfer, transaction, transmission, translation, translated, transcription, transit, transitional, transportation, transmit, transcript, transmitter, transfusion, translucent, transparency

tri-

three
tripod, triennial, tricycle, triplane, tri-partite, triangle, triangular, trinity, triple, trilogy, tripled, triplets, triads, triplicate, triumvirate

ultra-

beyond, extreme
ultraviolet, ultrasound, ultrasonic, ultra-modern, ultra-right, ultra-left, ultra-conservative, ultra-thin, ultra-sensitive, ultralight

un- (1)

the opposite of, not
unemployment, unable, unlikely, unlike, unfortunately, unknown, unusual, undoubtedly, uncertainty, unexpected

un- (2)

to reverse an action, to deprive of
unveil, uncover, undo

under- (1)

too little, not enough
underestimate, underestimated, undervalued, underdeveloped, underrated, underprivileged, underfunding

under- (2)

beneath, lower than
underlying, underground, undergraduate, underwear, underline, undergrowth, under-secretary, underclass, underworld, understatement, undertones

uni-

one
unilaterally, unicorn, unidirectional, uniprocessor, unilinear, unisex, unipolar, unicellular, unicycle, unidimensional, united, union, unit, unique, unity, universal, uniform, unified, unification, unite, unitary, unison, uniqueness, unify

vice-

deputy, next in rank
vice-president, vice-chairman, vice-captain, vice-chancellor, vice-admiral, vice-premier, vice-marshal, vice-presidential, vice-presidency, vice-principal