Prefixes and Suffixes
| Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
| a | in, on, of, up, to | abed, afoot |
| a | without, lacking | atheist, agnostic |
| ab | from, away, off | abdicate, abjure |
| ad | to, toward | advance |
| am | friend, love | amicable, amatory |
| ante | before, previous | antecedent, antedate |
| anti | against, opposing | antipathy, antidote |
| auto | self | autonomy, autobiography |
| belli | war, warlike | bellicose |
| bene | well, good | benefit, benefactor |
| bi | two | bisect, biennial |
| bio | life | biology, biosphere |
| cata | down, away, thoroughly | catastrophe, cataclysm |
| chron | time | chronometer, synchronize |
| circum | around | circumspect, circumference |
| com | with, together, very | commotion, complicate |
| contra | against, opposing | contradict, contravene |
| cred | belief, trust | credible, credit |
| de | from | depart |
| dem | people | demographics, democracy |
| dia | through, across, apart | diameter, diagnose |
| dis | away, off, down, not | dissent, disappear |
| epi | upon | epilogue |
| equi | equal, equally | equivalent |
| ex | out | extract |
| for | away, off, from | forget, forswear |
| fore | before, previous | foretell, forefathers |
| homo | same, equal | homogenized |
| hyper | excessive, over | hypercritical, hypertension |
| hypo | under, beneath | hypodermic, hypothesis |
| in | in, into | intrude, invade |
| in | not, opposing | incapable, ineligible |
| inter | among, between | intercede, interrupt |
| intra | within | intramural, intrastate |
| magn | large | magnitude, magnify |
| mal | bad, poorly, not | malfunction |
| micr | small | microbe, microscope |
| mis | bad, poorly, not | misspell, misfire |
| mono | one, single | monogomy, monologue |
| mor | die, death | mortality, mortuary |
| neo | new | neolithic, neoconservative |
| non | not | nonentity, nonsense |
| ob | against, opposing | objection |
| omni | all, everywhere | omniscient |
| ortho | right, straight | orthogonal, orthodox |
| over | above | overbearing |
| pan | all, entire | panorama, pandemonium |
| para | beside, beyond | parallel, paradox |
| per | through | perceive, permit |
| peri | around | periscope, perimeter |
| phil | love, like | philosophy, philanthropic |
| poly | many | polymorphous, polygamous |
| post | after, following | postpone, postscript |
| pre | before, previous | prevent, preclude |
| prim | first, early | primitive, primary |
| pro | forward, in place of | propel, pronoun |
| re | back, backward, again | revoke, recur |
| retro | back, backward | retrospect, retrograde |
| semi | half, partly | semicircle, semicolon |
| sub | under, beneath | subjugate, substitute |
| super | above, extra | supersede, supernumerary |
| sym | with, together | sympathy, symphony |
| trans | across, beyond, over | transact, transport |
| ultra | beyond, excessively | ultramodern, ultrasonic, ultraviolet |
| un | not, reverse of | unhappy, unlock |
| uni | one | uniform, unity |
| vis | to see | visage, visable |
| Suffix | Meaning | Examples |
| able | able to, likely | capable, tolerable |
| age | process, state, rank | passage, bondage |
| ance | act, condition, fact | acceptance, vigilance |
| arch | to rule | monarch |
| ard | one that does excessively | drunkard, wizard |
| ate | having, showing | separate, desolate |
| ation | action, state, result | occupation, starvation |
| cy | state, condition | accuracy, captaincy |
| dom | state, rank, condition | serfdom, wisdom |
| en | cause to be, become | deepen, strengthen |
| er | one who does | teacher |
| esce | become, grow, continue | convalesce, acquiesce |
| esque | in the style of, like | picturesque, grotesque |
| ess | feminine | waitress, lioness |
| fic | making, causing | terrific, beatific |
| ful | full of, marked by | thankful, zestful |
| fy | make, cause, cause to have | glorify, fortify |
| hood | state, condition | manhood, statehood |
| ible | able, likely, fit | edible, possible, divisible |
| ion | action, result, state | union, fusion |
| ish | suggesting, like | churlish, childish |
| ism | act, manner, doctrine | barbarism, socialism |
| ist | doer, believer | monopolist, socialist |
| ition | action, state, result | sedition, expedition |
| ity | state, quality, condition | acidity, civility |
| ize | make, cause to be, treat with | sterilize, mechanize, criticize |
| less | lacking, without | hopeless, countless |
| like | like, similar | childlike, dreamlike |
| logue | type of speaking or writing | prologue |
| ly | like, of the nature of | friendly, positively |
| ment | means, result, action | refreshment, disappointment |
| ness | quality, state | greatness, tallness |
| or | doer, office, action | juror, elevator, honor |
| ous | marked by, given to | religious, riotous |
| ship | the art or skill of | statesmanship |
| some | apt to, showing | tiresome, lonesome |
| th | act, state, quality | warmth, width |
| tude | quality, state, result | magnitude, fortitude |
| ty | quality, state | enmity, activity |
| ward | in the direction of | backward, homeward |
Last Updated: 03/01/2017