List of Prefixes and Meanings

Looking for a list of prefixes including meanings and typical usage? Then look no further.

On this page -- and those that follow -- you'll find a complete prefixes list plus some definitions and words which have those specific prefixes.

Most prefixes in English are from the Latin and Greek languages so a knowledge of Latin and Greek prefixes and suffixes will help you learn new vocabulary and unlock unknown words in any testing situation.

I've included the list of prefixes alphabetically to make it easier for you to study and remember them.

I recommend printing out this page (and those that follow) and then looking over the list to get an understanding of the prefixes and how they are used.

Next, I would suggest looking over any text (a newspaper article is a good source) and searching for words with the prefixes listed. Any unkown words should be easy to figure out using the list of prefixes.

List of Prefixes and Meanings letters A thru D

ab,abs	from, away from	abduct = lead away, kidnap, abjure = renounce
ad, ac, af, ag, an, ap, ar, as, at	to, forward	advance = move forward accord = agreement, harmony, affliction = cause by distress aggregation = collection, annexation = addition, appease = bring toward peace, arraignment = indictment, assumption = taking for granted, attendance = presence, the persons present
ambi	both	ambiguous = double meaning, ambivalent = having conflicting emotions
an, a	without	anarchy = lack of government, amoral = without morals
ante	before	antecedent = preceding event or word, antediluvian = ancient
anti	against, opposite	antipathy = hatred of, antithetical = exactly opposite
arch	chief, first	archetype = original, first, head archbishop = chief bishop
be	over, thoroughly	bedaub = smear over, befuddle = confuse thoroughly
bi	two	bicameral = composed of two houses, biennial = every two years
cata	down	catastrophe = disaster, cataract = waterfall, catapult = hurl
circum	around	circumnavigate = sail around, circumspect = cautious, circumscribe = limit
com, co, col, con, cor	with, together	combine = merge with, coeditor = joint editor, collateral = subordinate, connected conference = meeting, corroborate = confirm
contra, contro	against	contravene = conflict with, controversy = dispute
de	down, away	debase = lower in value, decadence = deterioration
demi	partly, half	demigod = partly divine being
di	two	dichotomy = into two parts, dilemma = choice between two alternatives
dia	across	diagonal = across a figure, diameter = distance across a circle
dis, dif	not, apart	discord = lack of harmony, differ = disagree
dys	faulty, bad	dysfunctional = not functioning properly

To go to the list of prefixes page letters H thru O just click on the previous link.

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