List of Basic Affixes Used for Word formation

prefix

meaning

examples

a-

without

amoral

ante-

before

antecedent, antedate

anti-

against, opposing

anti-establishment, anti-bacterial, anti-pollution

arch-

more extreme

arch-capitalist, arch-rebel

auto-

self

auto-dial, auto-rotate

bi-

two, twice

bilingual, bisect, bi-monthly

circum-

round

circumnavigate, circumvent

co-

with

co-author, co-edit

col-, com-, con-

with

collaborate, combine, connect

contra-, counter-

against, opposing

contra-revolutionary, contraception, counter-measure, counter-claim

de-

opposite action

decentralize, declassify

dia-

across

diagonal, diameter

dis-

opposite action or state

disagree, disprove, distrust, disbelief, disproportionate

dys-

abnormal

dyslexia, dysfunctional

e-

electronic

e-literate, e-book

eco-

relating to the environment

eco-tourism, eco-disaster

equi-

equal

equidistant, equilateral

ex-

previously

ex-president, ex-student

extra-

very

extra-bright, extra-strong

extra-

outside

extra-curricular, extra-sensory

hyper-

having too much

hyperactive, hypersensitive

-il, -im, -in, -ir-

not

illogical, impossible, indistinct, irrational

in-

movement to or towards the inside of something

input, inset, intake, import

inter-

between, connected

interrelated, interact

intra-

within

intra-generational, intramuscular

kilo-

thousand

kilogram, kilowatt

macro-

large in size or scope

macro-economics, macro-scale

mal-

badly

malfunction, malpractice

micro-

small in size or scope

micro-economics, micro-scale

mis-

wrongly

mistranslate, misunderstanding

mono-

one

mono-centric, monoculture

multi-

many

multicultural, multi-level

neo-

based on something older but in a new form

neo-classical, neo-conservative

non-

not

non-believer, non-competitive

out-

more, to a greater extent

outnumber, outlive

over-

too much

over-abundance, overload, overworked

post-

after

post-examination, post-modern

pre-

before

pre-industrial, pre-war

pro-

in favour of

pro-liberal, pro-feminist

pseudo-

false

pseudo-intellectual, pseudo-science

quasi-

almost, not quite

quasi-academic, quasi-legal

re-

again

rediscover, redefine, rename

retro-

backwards

retrogressive, retrospective

semi-

partly

semi-organic, semi-precious

sub-

under, lesser

sub-heading, sub-section

super-

above, bigger

superpower, supersonic

trans-

across

transcontinental, transcribe

ultra-

extreme

ultra-sensitive, ultrasound

un-

not

uncertain, unusual, unscrew, unplug

under-

insufficient

underemployed, undernourished

well-

useful, successful

well-designed, well-written, well-established

suffix

meaning

examples

-able

can be

identifiable, predictable

-ant

having an effect

coolant, accelerant

-based

forming major part of

computer-based, oil-based

-cy

state or quality

accuracy, literacy, urgency

-ee

person affected by something

interviewee, trainee, addressee

-free

without

debt-free, pain-free

-hood

state, condition, period

adulthood, motherhood

-ic

connected with

photographic, electric

-ics

study of

genetics, electronics

-ify

give something a quality

clarify, purify, solidify

-ism

belief, behaviour

modernism, heroism

-ist

person with specific beliefs or behaviour

anarchist, optimist

-ize, -ise

bring about a state or condition

modernize/modernize, colonize/colonise

-less

without

childless, meaningless

-like

resembling

bird-like, hook-like

-ness

quality or state

effectiveness, openness

-ocracy

type of ruling body

meritocracy, bureaucracy

-ocrat

person ruling

technocrat, aristocrat

-ology,

-ological

study of

biology, biological, geology, physiological

-proof

protected against, safe from

waterproof, dustproof

-ship

state or experience of having a specific position

professorship, leadership