Prefixes

See also Common Roots.

Prefixes

Prefix Meaning Examples

anti- against antibiotic
bi- two bicycle
contra- against contradict
di- two diameter, dichotomy
dis- apart, away from dissatisfied, disillusion
ex former ex-wife
ex-, e- go out from exit
extra- beyond extraterrestrial
hyper- extremely hyperactive
in-, im-, il-, ir- negative, not incapable, impossible, illogical, irresponsible
inter- between interaction, intermingle
intra- within intracoastal
intro- inward introduction
macro- large macroeconomics
micro- tiny, small microscope
mis- wrong misuse, misinform
mono- one monolingual
multi- many multinational
neo- new neophyte, neonatal
non- negative, not non-binding
omni- all omnipotent
poly- many polyglot
post- after postwar
pre- before previous
re- again reply, rearrange
retro- backwards retroactive
semi- half semiannual
sub- under submarine, subordinate
super- above supersede
tri- three tricycle, triplets
un- negative, not unidentified
uni- one unilateral