Prefixes, Suffixes, and Word Roots

A familiarity with common prefixes, suffixes, and word roots can dramatically improve your ability to deter-
mine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words. The following tables list common prefixes, suffixes, and
word roots; their meanings; an example of a word with that prefix, suffix, or word root; the meaning of that
word; and a sentence that demonstrates the meaning of that word. Refer to this chapter often to refresh your
memory and improve your vocabulary.
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Prefixes
A prefix is a syllable added to the beginning of a word to change or add to its meaning. The following table
lists some of the most common prefixes in the English language. They are grouped together by similar
meanings.
CHAPTER
Prefixes,
Suffixes, and
Word Roots
10
155
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE
uni- one unify (v) to form into a single The new leader was able
unit; to unite to unify the three factions into
one strong political party.
mono- one monologue a long speech by I was very moved by the
(n) one person or monologue in Scene III.
performer
bi- two bisect (v) to divide into two If you bisect a square, you will
equal parts get two rectangles of equal
size.
duo- two duality (n) having two sides The novel explores the duality
or parts of good and evil in humans.
tri- three triangle (n) a figure having In an isosceles triangle, two of
three angles the three angles are the same
size.

quadri- four quadruped (n) an animal with four Some quadrupeds evolved
feet into bipeds.
tetra- four tetralogy (n) series of four related “Time Zone” was the fourth
artistic works and final work in Classman’s
tetralogy.
quint- five quintuplets (n) five offspring born Each quintuplet weighed less
at one time than four pounds at birth.
pent- five pentameter (n) a line of verse Most of Shakespeare’s sonnets
(poetry) with five are written in iambic
metrical feet pentameter.
multi- many multifaceted having many sides This is a multifaceted issue,
(adj) and we must examine each
side carefully.
poly- many polyglot (n) one who speaks or It is no wonder he is a
understands several polyglot; he has lived in eight
languages different countries.
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156
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE
omni- all omniscient knowing all Dr. Perez seems omniscient;
(adj) she knows what all of us are
thinking in class.
micro- small microcosm (n) little or miniature Some people say that Brooklyn
world; something Heights, the Brooklyn district
representing something across the river from the Wall
else on a very small Street area, is a microcosm of
scale Manhattan.
mini- small minority (n) small group within a John voted for Bridget, but he

larger group was in the minority; most peo-
ple voted for Elaine.
macro- large macrocosm (n) the large scale world Any change to the macrocosm
or universe; any great will eventually effect the
whole microcosm.
ante- before anticipate (v) to give advance His decades of experience
thought to; foresee; enabled him to anticipate the
expect problem.
pre- before precede (v) to come before in The appetizers preceded the
time or order main course.
post- after postscript (n) message added after His postscript was almost as
the close of a letter long as his letter!
inter- between intervene (v) to come between Romeo, trying to make peace,
intervened in the fight between
Tybalt and Mercutio.
inter- together interact (v) to act upon or The psychologist took notes as
influence each other she watched the children
interact.
intra- within intravenous within or into a vein She could not eat and had to
(adj) be fed intravenously for three
days.
intro- into, within introvert (n) a person whose Unlike his flamboyant sister,
attention is largely quiet Zeke was a real
directed inward, toward introvert.
himself or herself; a shy
or withdrawn person
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PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND WORD ROOTS
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157

PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE
in- in, into induct (v) to bring in (to a group) She was inducted into the
honor society.
ex- out, from expel (v) to drive out or away Let us expel the invaders!
circum- around circumscribe (v) to draw a line around; She carefully circumscribed
to mark the limits of the space that would become
her office.
sub- under subvert (v) to bring about the His attempt to subvert my
destruction of, authority will cost him his job.
overthrow; to undermine
super- above, over supervisor (n) one who watches over Alex refused the promotion to
supervisor because he did not
feel comfortable being his
friends’ boss.
con- with, together consensus (n) general agreement After hours of debate, the group
finally reached a consensus
and selected a candidate.
non- not nonviable (adj) not able to live The farmer explained that the
or survive seedling was nonviable.
in- not invariable (adj) not changing The weather here is invariable—
always sunny and warm.
un- not, against unmindful (adj) not conscious For better or worse, he is
or aware of; forgetful unmindful of office politics.
contra- against contradict (v) to state that (what is I know we do not have to agree
said) is untrue; to state on everything, but she
the opposite of contradicts everything I say.
anti- against, antipode (n) exact or direct North is the antipode of south.
opposite opposite
counter- against, counter- working against Complaining is counter-
opposing productive (adj) production productive.

dis- away, dispel (v) to drive away To dispel rumors that I was
quitting, I scheduled a series
of meetings for the next three
months.
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158
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE DEFINITION SENTENCE
dis- not, opposite of disorderly (adj) not having order; Two people were hurt when the
messy, untidy, crowd became disorderly
uncontrolled, or during the protest.
unruly
mis- wrong, ill misuse (v) to use wrongly She misused her authority
when she reassigned Charlie to
a new team.
mal- bad, wrong maltreat (v) to treat badly After the dog saved his life, he
or wrongly swore he would never maltreat
another animal.
mal- ill malaise (n) feeling of discomfort The malaise many women feel
or illness during the first few months of
pregnancy is called morning
sickness.
pseudo- false, fake pseudonym (n) false or fake name Mark Twain is a pseudonym for
Samuel Clemens.
auto- by oneself automaton (n) a robot; a person The workers on the assembly
or by itself who seems to act line looked like automatons.
mechanically and
without thinking
co- together with, cohesive (adj) having a tendency Though they came from

jointly to bond or stick different backgrounds, they
together; united have formed a remarkably
cohesive team.
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