Prefix

Meaning

Examples

abs

from

absent, abstract

ad, ap, at

to

advance, approach, attack

auto

self

automatic, automobile

bi

two

bicycle, bifocal

bio

life

biology, biomedical

com, con, col

with

combine, confront, collect

de

from, undo

depart, defrost

dis

apart

disappoint, disassociate, disagree

en

put into or on

enclose, envelope, enthrone

ex

out of, former, from

export, exchange

in, im, em

into, in

inside, imbed, empower, embalm

inter

between

interact, intersperse

in, im, ir

not

indirect, imperfect, irregular

micro

small

microscope, microphone

mis

wrong

mistake, misspell

ob, op

against

obstruct, oppress

para

at the side of

parallel, paramedic

photo

produced by light

photograph, Photostat

pre

before

precede, prevent, prepaid

poly

many

polygamy, polytechnic

pro

move forward, before

project, proceed, propose

re

back

reappear, recall, refresh

sub

under

submarine, subnormal

tele

at a distance

telegram, telephone

trans

across or above

transport, transcontinental

tri

three

tricycle, triangle, tricolor

un

back, not

untie, unfold, unhappy, unchanged

Suffix

Meaning

Examples

able, ible

capable of, worthy

agreeable, comfortable, credible

age

act of or state of

salvage, bondage

acy, isy

quality

hypocrisy, piracy

al, eal, ial

on account of
related to, action of

judicial, official
arrival, refusal

ance, ence

act or fact of doing
state of

violence, dependence
allowance, insurance

ant

quality of
one who

defiant, expectant, reliant
occupant, accountant

er, or

agent, one who

author, baker, winner

ed

past

jumped, baked

ery

a place to
practice of
condition of

nunnery, cannery
surgery
bravery, drudgery

dom

state, condition of

wisdom, kingdom, martyrdom

ent

having the quality of

different, dependent, innocent

en

made of, to make

woolen, wooden, darken

eur, er, or

one who

dictator, chauffeur, worker

er

degree of comparison

harder, newer, older

est

highest of comparison

cleanest, hardest, softest

ful full

of

graceful, restful, faithful

hood

state of being

boyhood, knighthood, womanhood

ible, ile, il

capable of being

digestible, responsible, docile, civil

ier, ior

one who

carrier, warrior

ify

to make

magnify, beautify, falsify

ic

like, made of

metallic, toxic, poetic

ing

action of

running, wishing

ion

act or state of

confusion, correction, protection

ism

fact of being

communism, socialism

ish

like

childish, sheepish, foolish

ist

a person who does

artist, geologist

ity, ty

state of

majesty, chastity, humanity

itis

inflammation of

appendicitis, tonsillitis

ive

having nature of

attractive, active

ize

to make

pasteurize, motorize

less

without

motionless, careless, childless

let

small

starlet, eaglet

ly

like, in a manner
happening

heavenly, remarkably, suddenly
every absolutely, monthly

ment

state or quality
act of doing

accomplishment, excitement
placement, movement

meter

device for measuring

thermometer, barometer

ness

state of

blindness, kindness

ology

study of

geology, zoology, archaeology

ous, ious

full of

joyous, marvelous, furious

ship

quality of or state of
rank of

friendship, leadership
governorship, lordship

scope

instrument for seeing

telescope, microscope

some

like

tiresome, lonesome

tion, sion

action, state of being

condition, attention, fusion

ty

quality or state of

liberty, majesty

ward

toward

southward, forward

y

like, full of
action of
diminutive, endearing