Are you ever confused by big words that have extra letters at the front? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Prefixes are those little extras at the start of words, and they can change the whole meaning. In this blog post, we’ve got a handy list from A to Z of prefixes with their meanings and examples. Plus, you can download a PDF to keep as a helpful reference. Let’s dive in and make words simpler!

Also Read: 80 Examples of Prefixes and Suffixes Used in Sentences

What are Prefixes?

Prefixes are small groups of letters added to the beginning of words to alter their meaning. They play a crucial role in English grammar, allowing us to create new words or change the original word’s sense. Common prefixes include “un-” (not), “re-” (again), and “pre-” (before), among others.

Prefixes List A to Z

Here is the quick list of prefixes from a to z:

1) A-

Meaning: Without, not

Examples: Amoral, Asymmetrical, Atheist, Anarchy, Anonymous

2) Acro-

Meaning: High, height

Examples: Acrobat, Acrophobia, Acropolis, Acronym, Acrostic

3) Ambi-

Meaning: Both

Examples: Ambidextrous, Ambiguous, Ambivalent, Ambience, Ambition

4) An-

Meaning: Without

Examples: Anarchy, Anemia, Anaerobic, Anorexia, Anomaly

5) Anti-

Meaning: Against, opposite

Examples: Antibiotic, Antifreeze, Antithesis, Antioxidant, Anticlimax

6) Auto-

Meaning: Self

Examples: Autobiography, Autopilot, Automatic, Autonomy, Autoimmune

7) Be-

Meaning: Make, cause

Examples: Become, Bedazzle, Bewitch, Befriend, Belittle

8) Bi-

Meaning: Two

Examples: Bicycle, Bilingual, Bipartisan, Binocular, Bimonthly

9) Circum-

Meaning: Around

Examples: Circumference, Circumnavigate, Circumstance, Circumspect, Circumvent

10) Co-

Meaning: Together, with

Examples: Coexist, Coauthor, Coordinate, Copilot, Cooperation

11) Con-/Com-

Meaning: With, together

Examples: Connect, Community, Combine, Combat, Commemorate

12) Counter-

Meaning: Opposite, contrary

Examples: Counteract, Counterpart, Counterfeit, Counterbalance, Counterargument

13) De-

Meaning: Opposite, remove

Examples: Dethrone, Decompose, Defrost, Deactivate, Deescalate

14) Dis-

Meaning: Not, opposite of

Examples: Disagree, Disappear, Disinfect, Disobey, Disqualify

15) En-/Em-

Meaning: Cause to

Examples: Enable, Encourage, Empower, Embark, Embrace

16) Eu-

Meaning: Good, well

Examples: Euphoria, Eulogy, Euphemism, Euthanasia, Euphonic

17) Ex-

Meaning: Former, out of

Examples: Ex-president, Exhale, Exotic, Expand, Exterminate

18) Extra-

Meaning: Beyond, outside

Examples: Extraterrestrial, Extraordinary, Extracurricular, Extravagant, Extrapolate

19) Fore-

Meaning: Before

Examples: Forecast, Foreground, Forefather, Forewarn, Foresee

20) Hemi-

Meaning: Half

Examples: Hemisphere, Hemiplegia, Hemicycle, Hemistich, Hemizygous

21) Hetero-

Meaning: Different

Examples: Heterogeneous, Heterodox, Heterosexual, Heteronomy, Heteroclite

22) Homo-

Meaning: Same

Examples: Homogeneous, Homonym, Homologous, Homogenize, Homocentric

23) Hyper-

Meaning: Over, excessive

Examples: Hyperactive, Hypertension, Hyperbole, Hypermarket, Hyperlink

24) Il-/Im-/In-/Ir-

Meaning: Not

Examples: Illegal, Impossible, Inactive, Irregular, Inefficient

25) Inter-

Meaning: Between, among

Examples: International, Interact, Intermediate, Internet, Interview

26) Intra-

Meaning: Within

Examples: Intravenous, Intramural, Intranet, Intrastate, Intracellular

27) Macro-

Meaning: Large, long

Examples: Macrocosm, Macroeconomics, Macrophage, Macroscopic, Macrobiotic

28) Micro-

Meaning: Small

Examples: Microscope, Microwave, Microchip, Microcosm, Microorganism

29) Mid-

Meaning: Middle

Examples: Midway, Midterm, Midnight, Midlife, Midfield

30) Mis-

Meaning: Wrongly

Examples: Misuse, Mislead, Misplace, Misunderstand, Misinform

31) Multi-

Meaning: Many

Examples: Multinational, Multifaceted, Multimedia, Multiplex, Multitude

32) Neo-

Meaning: New, recent

Examples: Neoclassical, Neonatal, Neophyte, Neoliberal, Neolithic

33) Non-

Meaning: Not

Examples: Nonprofit, Nonsense, Nonverbal, Nonviolent, Nonstick

34) Out-

Meaning: Better, more than

Examples: Outperform, Outgrow, Outlast, Outsource, Outdo

35) Over-

Meaning: Excessively

Examples: Overreact, Overachieve, Overload, Overlook, Overcome

36) Pan-

Meaning: All, every

Examples: Panorama, Pantheon, Panacea, Pandemic, Pantheism

37) Peri-

Meaning: Around, near

Examples: Perimeter, Periscope, Periphery, Perigee, Periodontal

38) Poly-

Meaning: Many

Examples: Polygon, Polytheist, Polyglot, Polymorphic, Polytechnic

39) Post-

Meaning: After

Examples: Postgame, Postpone, Postwar, Postscript, Postmodern

40) Pre-

Meaning: Before

Examples: Prehistoric, Prejudge, Preview, Predict, Prewarn

41) Pro-

Meaning: Forward, in favor of

Examples: Promote, Progress, Project, Proactive, Produce

42) Re-

Meaning: Again, back

Examples: Rewrite, Return, Review, Rebuild, Recall

43) Sub-

Meaning: Under, below

Examples: Submarine, Subordinate, Subway, Subset, Submerge

44) Super-

Meaning: Above, beyond

Examples: Superman, Supermarket, Supernatural, Superpower, Superhighway

45) Trans-

Meaning: Across, beyond

Examples: Transport, Transatlantic, Transition, Translate, Translucent

46) Tri-

Meaning: Three

Examples: Triangle, Trilogy, Tricycle, Triathlon, Trident

47) Ultra-

Meaning: Beyond, extreme

Examples: Ultraviolet, Ultrasound, Ultraconservative, Ultramodern, Ultralight

48) Un-

Meaning: Not, opposite of

Examples: Unhappy, Unfair, Unfold, Unite, Unknown

49) Under-

Meaning: Beneath, less than

Examples: Underestimate, Underground, Undergo, Underline, Undertake

50) Up-

Meaning: Higher, upward

Examples: Upgrade, Uplift, Uptown, Uproot, Upturn

Related: List of Common Suffixes A to Z

Infographics (Prefixes List a to z)

List of Common Prefixes A to Z PDF (Download Here)