A BIG List of Prefixes and

Suffixes and Their Meanings

👉 Prefix Meaning
Prefix is a letter or a group of letters that appears at the beginning of a word and
changes the word’s original meaning. A suffix is a letter or a group of letters that
is usually added onto the

👉 Suffix Meaning
What is the Suffix?

Suffix is a letter or a group of letters that is usually added onto the end of words,
to change the way a word fits into a sentence grammatically.

Nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs all tend to use different suffixes, so this
makes it a little easier to remember! Collectively, prefixes and suffixes are known
as ‘affixes’.
👉 Prefixes

Prefix Definitions

A prefix is a letter or a group of letters that attaches to the beginning of a word

and helps to indicate or modify its meaning. An easy example would be the word
‘prefix’ itself! It begins with the prefix pre-, which means ‘before’.

It is quite important to understand what different prefixes mean as they can help
to understand the meanings of any new vocabulary that you learn. However, you
do need to be careful, as sometimes a prefix can have more than one meaning!

An example would be im-, this can mean ‘not’ or ‘into’.

Here is a list of the most common prefixes

👉 Prefix Examples

PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLES

ante- before antenatal, anteroom, antedate

anti- against, opposing antibiotic, antidepressant, antidote

circum- around circumstance, circumvent, circumnavigate

co- with co-worker, co-pilot, co-operation

de- off, down, away from devalue, defrost, derail, demotivate

dis- opposite of, not disagree, disappear, disintegrate, disapprove

em-, en- cause to, put into embrace, encode, embed, enclose, engulf

epi- upon, close to, after epicentre, episcope, epidermis

ex- former, out of ex-president, ex-boyfriend, exterminate

PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLES

extra- beyond, more than extracurricular, extraordinary, extra-terrestrial

fore- before forecast, forehead, foresee, foreword, foremost

homo- same homosexual, homonuclear, homoplastic

hyper- over, above hyperactive, hyperventilate

il-, im-, in-, ir- not impossible, illegal, irresponsible, indefinite

im-, in- into insert, import, inside

infra- beneath, below infrastructure, infrared, infrasonic, infraspecific

inter-, intra- between interact, intermediate, intergalactic, intranet

macro- large macroeconomics, macromolecule

micro- small microscope, microbiology, microfilm, microwave

mid- middle midfielder, midway, midsummer

mis- wrongly misinterpret, misfire, mistake, misunderstand

mono- one, singular monotone, monobrow, monolithic

non- not, without nonsense, nonentity, nondescript

omni- all, every omnibus, omnivore, omnipotent

para- beside parachute, paramedic, paradox

post- after post-mortem, postpone, post-natal

pre- before prefix, predetermine, pre-intermediate

re- again return, rediscover, reiterate, reunite

semi- half semicircle, semi-final, semiconscious

sub- under submerge, submarine, sub-category, subtitle

super- above, over superfood, superstar, supernatural, superimpose

therm- heat thermometer, thermostat, thermodynamic

trans- across, beyond transport, transnational, transatlantic

tri- three triangle, tripod, tricycle

un- not unfinished, unfriendly, undone, unknown

uni- one unicycle, universal, unilateral, unanimous

METRIC SYSTEM PREFIXES
nano- 0. 000 000 001

milli- 0. 001

centi- 0. 01

kilo- 1000

mega- 1000 000

giga- 1000 000 000

tera- 1000 000 000 000

Prefix nano-

The prefix nano- is used in the metric system. The prefix denotes a factor of
one billionth.

Example:

Nanometer

Prefix milli-

The prefix milli- is used in the metric system. It has only one use and it is to
denote a factor of one thousandth.

Example:

 Millimeter
Prefix centi-

Centi- is a unit prefix in the metric system. It denotes a factor of one

hundredth.

Examples:

 Centimeter, centigram, centiliter, etc.

Prefix kilo-

The prefix kilo- is a decimal unit prefix in the metric system. It denotes
a multiplication of one thousand.
Examples:

Kilogram, kilometer, kilojoule, kilobyte, kilobit, kiloohm, kilosecond, etc.


Prefix mega-

The prefix mega- can be used in two ways. The first is as a unit prefix in the
metric system, and it describes one million units. The second is as an add-on
for words to make them present something large.

Examples for metric system

Megapixel, megahertz, megabyte, megawatt, megadeath, megaton,


megameter, etc.
Examples for add-on:

Mega-mass, mega-man, mega-important, mega-dope, mega-sized, etc.


Prefix giga-

The prefix giga- is used in the metric system to denote a factor of a billion. It is
also commonly hyphenated in colloquial speech to describe something of
great size.

Examples:

Gigahertz, gigabyte, gigabit, giga-shroom, giga-power, giga-hamburger,


giga-sized, etc.
Prefix tera- / Prefix for trillion

The prefix for trillion is tera-. Tera- is a unit prefix in the metric system.

Examples:

 Terawatt, terabyte, teralitre, terameter, terasecond, etc.

MEDICAL, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, AND SCIENCE PREFIXES

epi- Biology and medicine – meaning: up, upon, over, etc.

para- Science and medicine – meaning: on the side of, beside, etc.

endo- Biology and Medicine – meaning: within

eu- Biology and chemistry – meaning: good, well

intra- Medicine and biology – meaning: within

 hemi- Medicine and biology – meaning: half

hetero- Biology and social science – meaning: different, other

trans- Chemistry and astronomy – meaning: across, over, beyond, etc.

sub- Chemistry and science – meaning: under, below, beneath, etc.

poly- Chemistry, biology, and music theory – meaning: many, much, etc.

tetra- Chemistry, math, and geometry – meaning: four

iso- Chemistry – meaning: equal

di- Chemistry – meaning: two, twice, double

mono- Chemistry and biology – meaning: singular, alone, one

hyper- Science and astrology – meaning: abundant, exaggerated, etc.

hypo- Medicine and biology – meaning: under

peri- Biology and geography – meaning: around, about, etc.

Prefix epi-

The prefix epi- is of Greek origin. It describes something that is on, upon,

over, near, at before, or after something else. It is used across many
sciences and disciplines, and is most common in biology and medicine,

Examples:

Epicenter, epiblast, epidemic, epicarp, epiderm, epidural, epigene,


epistasis, epidermis, epitome, epigraph, epigram, epipod, etc.
Prefix para-

The prefix para- is most commonly attached to verbs, and verb phrases. It means
at one side of, or on the side of, as well as meaning beside, side by side,
beyond, past, or describes something defective or inactive. It is
used commonly in sciences and medicine.
Examples:

 Paradigm, parabola, paradox, parasitic, parallax, parameter, paranoia,

paranormal, paraphernalia, parapraxis, parasite, paralegal, etc.
Prefix endo-

Endo- is a very simple prefix, and it means within. It is commonly used in

biology, medicine, and other sciences.

Examples:

 Endobiotic, endocarp, endocrine, endoderm, endogenous, endomitosis,

endomorph, endorphin, endoplasm, endospore, endotherm, etc.
Prefix eu-

The prefix eu- stems from Greek. It means something good, or well. It is
commonly used in biology, medicine, and chemistry.

Examples:

 Eulogy, eucalyptus, euchlorine, euglycemia, eukaryote, euthanasia,

euglena, eupeptic, eupnea, euthyroid, euthropic, euploid, etc.
Prefix intra-

The prefix intra- simply means within, and it is often associated with the prefix
inter-. It is used to form compound words. The prefix intra- is also
commonly used in biology and medicine.

Examples:

 Intravenous, intradermal, intracranial, intrada, intracardiac, intraclonal,

intracodon, intray, intraocular, intrauterine, intrahost, intrasient, intraset,
etc.
Prefix hemi-

The prefix hemi- is a simple one, and it means half. It is most commonly used in

medicine and biology.

Examples:

 Hemiparesis, hemiplegia, hemithorax, hemihelix, hemicarbonic,

hemicerebral, hemicoronal, heminode, hemiparesis, etc.
Prefix hetero-

The prefix hetero- simply means different, or other. It’s most

commonly encountered in medicine and biology, as well as sometimes in
social sciences.
Examples:

 Heterocyclic, heteromorphism, heterosexual, heterozygous, heterodox,

heterogene, heteropod, heterochromatic, heterolateral, heterodiagenic,
etc.
Prefix trans-

The prefix trans- is originally from Latin, and it’s very versatile in its use. It
means something across, over, beyond, through, or changing. It is also used
in chemistry, and astronomy, to denote distance. It also refers to something
on the other side of something, and is used to describe one’s gender if it
doesn’t align with the biologically assigned sex. 

Examples:

 Transgression, translucent, transaction, transfixed, transatlantic,

transcontinental, trans-Martian, trans-Neptunian, transsexual,
transgender, translation, etc.
Prefix sub-

The prefix sub- comes from Latin and it is very simple, but

versatile. It means under, below, beneath, slightly, nearly, imperfect,
secondary, or subordinate. It is also commonly used in chemistry and
other sciences.

Examples:

 Subject, subtract, subjugate, subnitrate, suboxide, subchloride, subplot,

subcommittee, subvert, submerge, submarine, subscribe, subtropical,
etc.
Prefix poly-

The prefix poly- means many, much, or in great number. It is very common

in chemistry and biology, as well as music theory.

Examples:

 Polyandrous, polyethylene, polymorphic, polyglot, polymer, polyester,

polycaliber, polycentric, polytonal, polychord, polycratic, etc.
Prefix tetra-

Tetra- is a numeral prefix, and it means four. It is used to denote a thing that

consists of four parts. It is commonly used in various sciences, especially
chemistry, math, and geometry.

Examples:
  Tetrameter, tetragon, tetrahelix, tetrahydride, tetraionic, tetrachloride,
tetracube, tetracycline, tetraethyl, tetranuclear, etc.
Prefix iso-

The prefix iso- means equal. It is commonly used in chemistry to describe

isometric compounds. It is also used in the formation of various
compound words.

Examples:

 Isometric, isotope, isocyanic, isoalkene, isolate, isontropic, isoclonal,

isocurve, etc.
Prefix di-

The prefix di- comes from Greek, and it means two, twice, or double. It is
used in the formation of various compound words. It is commonly seen in
chemistry.

Examples:

 Dipolar, disulfide, diatomic, dioxide, dialogic, diazepine, dicobalt,

diacarboxyl, dibasal, dibenzonate, etc.
Prefix mono-

The prefix mono- means something singular, alone, or simply one. It

is commonly used in various sciences.

Examples:

 Mononucleosis, monophonic, monogamy, monorail, monopoly,

monotheism, monolayer, monohydrate, monotonous, monotone,
monoplan, etc.
Prefix hyper-

The prefix hyper- comes from Greek. It is used to describe something that is
abundant, it means over and denotes something in excess or something
being exaggerated. It is used commonly in sciences to denote mass or
space.

Examples:

 Hyperbole, hyperthyroid, hyperventilate, hypermass, hyperinflation,

hyperactive, hypercatabolic, hyperchloric, hypercritical, hyperchronic,
hyperlink, etc.
Prefix hypo-
Hypo is a very simple prefix that comes from Greek. It means under. It
is commonly used in medical terms, as well as generally in sciences and
various researches.

Examples:

Hypodermic, hypoglycemia, hypochondria, hypoallergenic, hypothesis,


hypocritical, hypocrite, hypocorism, hypogean, hypocaust, etc.
Prefix peri-

The prefix peri- comes from Greek. It means around, about, enclosing,
surrounding, or near. It is commonly used in biology and geography.

Examples:

 Periphery, periscope, pericranial, peridigital, perifacial, perimeter,

peripatetic, perimorph, periodontal, periosteum, perihelion, etc. 

Chemistry Prefixes
In chemistry prefixes are used to name various compounds. These
prefixes denote the number of a given element within a compound.

Prefixes:

1 – mono, 2 – di, 3 – tri, 4 – tetra, 5 – penta, 6 – hexa, 7 – hepta, 8 –


octa, 9 – nona, 10 – deca
Examples:

 Nitrogen trihydride, copper sulfate pentahydrate, bicarbon sulfate, etc.

GRAMMATICAL PREFIXES
de- Privation, removal, separation, etc.

inter- In between, among, together, etc.

pro- Affinity to something, advancing, etc.

ex- Our of, from, without

un- Not, opposite meaning of the original word

re- Again, repeating, back, etc.

mis- Mistaken, wrong, incorrect, etc.

con- Together, joined, etc.

pre- Before, prior to, in front of, etc.

im- Change meaning to the negative form of the original

ad- To, towards, joining, etc.

anti- Against, in opposition of something, etc.

auto- Self, same, spontaneous, etc.

pan- All, union of branches

dia- Through, completely, going apart, etc.

neo- New, fresh, young, etc.

post- Behind, after, later, etc.

ab- Away from

bi- Twice, two

co- Together, jointly, mutually

en- Confine something in a place, etc.

fore- Before, in front, superior

retro- Before, backwards

tele- Distance, measuring distance

be- To exist

an- Without, lacking, not

Prefix de-
The prefix de- is of Latin origin. It is used to indicate privation, removal,
separation, negation, descent, reversal, or intensity. The prefix de- is
also added to verbs in order for them to mean the opposite of what they
originally mean.

Examples:

 Decide, dehumidify, degrade, detract, deduce, decompose, decentralize,

desensitize, deconstruct, demoralize, defrost, destroy, etc. 
Prefix inter-

The prefix inter- comes from Latin. It describes something that is between,
among, in the midst of, mutual, reciprocated, together, or active during
an event. The prefix can be used to modify various types of words.

Examples:

 Interact, intercede, interlude, intercept, intersect, intercom, interim,

interject, intermediate, international, internet, interrupt, intertwine,
interview, etc.
Prefix pro-

Pro- is a very versatile prefix. It is used to describe an affinity for

something. It can also describe priority in space and time, as well as
denoting advancing, or indicating substitution. 

Examples:

 Pro-British, pro-Communist, proactive, provision, prologue, proceed,

produce, protract, procrastinate, proactive, prohibit, provoke, pronounce,
etc.
Prefix ex-

The prefix ex- is simple to use, because it is most commonly

hyphenated. It means out of, from, utterly, thoroughly, not, or without,
and can indicate a former status or title.

Examples:

 Ex-wife, ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend, ex-member, ex-president, ex-

convict, exodus, exhume, ex-husband, ex-Christian, etc.
Prefix un-

The prefix un- is simple to use because it only means not. It can be attached to

all forms of words in order for them to mean the opposite of what they
originally do.

Examples:
  Unfair, unemployed, unseen, unfeeling, uninformed, undisputed,
unheard, unrest, unable, unhappy, uncooked, unzip, etc.
Prefix re-

The prefix re- is originally from Latin. It means again, or describes

something that is being repeated, and it can also mean back, or
backwards to denote a regression.

Examples:

 Regenerate, refurbish, reimburse, revert, retract, retype, reconsider,

revolt, renew, reveal, redistribute, reconcile, restock, etc.
Prefix mis-

Mis- is a very versatile prefix, and can be applied to many different types of

words. It means ill, mistaken, wrong, incorrect, and in general has a
negative context.

Examples:

 Mistake, mishap, misinformed, misaligned, misspell, misread, misuse,

mispronounce, mishear, mistrial, misprint, mistrust, misbehavior, etc.
Prefix con-

The prefix con- is used with nouns, adjectives, and some verbs. It means
together, joined, as well as denoting a group of people, ideas, or things.

Examples:

 Confirm, congregation, congenial, console, converge, consult,

confederation, conjoined, conjecture, confluence, contingent, conflate,
etc.
Prefix pre-

The prefix pre- stems from Latin, and it is applied to various different words.
It means before, predating, prior to, in advance of, or in front of.

Examples:

 Prelude, preset, prevent, prepay, preschool, prewar, prefrontal, prenatal,

predetermined, prehistoric, pretrial, preheat, precaution, etc.
Prefix im-

The prefix im- is a negative prefix, which means it is used to change the
meaning of a word into a negative. It can be applied to many different
types of words, most notably nouns and adjectives.

Examples:
  Impossible, impatient, imperfect, immature, impurity, impartially,
immobilized, immaculate, impassive, imperil, etc.
Prefix ad-

The prefix ad- comes from Latin. It means towards, to, with regard to, or in
relation to. It can also describe addition, or joining.

Examples:

 Administer, advertise, adhere, addition, adrenal, admonish, adgerminal,

addental, adoral, adjoin, etc.
Prefix anti-

The prefix anti- means against, opposite of, or in opposition of something. It

is used to form compound words that mean the opposite of their original
meaning. It is also commonly hyphenated.

Examples:

 Antiseptic, anti-hero, antidote, antifreeze, antisocial, antiviral, antibiotic,

antibody, antiwar, anti-government, antisocial, antiaircraft, etc.
Prefix auto-

The prefix auto- means self, same, spontaneous, or self-sufficient. It is used

to create compound words, and can be used on various types of words.

Examples:

 Autobiography, automotive, autopilot, autograph, automobile, automatic,

autonomy, autocratic, autocorrect, autodidact, etc.
Prefix pan-

The prefix pan- comes from Greek. It means all, and it implies the union of
branches or groups. It is often hyphenated, and can be used to create
various compound words.

Examples:

 Panacea, panoply, pantheism, pantonality, pan-Christian, pan-Slavic,

panorama, pansexual, pan-African, etc.
Prefix dia-

The prefix dia- stems from Greek. It means passing through, thoroughly,
completely, going apart, or opposed in the moment. It is a very diverse
prefix and is used in different compound words.

Examples:
  Diabetes, dialect, diabolic, diagnosis, dialysis, diagram, diaspora,
dialogue, diaper, diarrhea, diameter, diagonal, etc.
Prefix neo-

The prefix neo- comes from Greek. It means new, fresh, young, or recent. It
is often hyphenated, and can be used to create various compound words.

Examples:

 Neolithic, neo-Baroque, neoformative, neonatal, neo-socialist,

neoclassical, neoclassicism, neo-fascist, neoglacial, neo-Hellenic,
neocosmic, etc. 
Prefix post-

The prefix post- comes from Latin. It means behind, after, later, subsequent
to. It is used in various compound words, and it can be often hyphenated.

Examples:

 Postdoctoral, postscript, postmodern, postgraduate, post-Victorian,

postcolonial, post-coital, posthumous, postpone, postwar, post-
Elizabethan, posterior, etc.
Prefix ab-

The prefix ab- comes from Latin. It is a simple prefix and it means away
from. It’s used commonly in with various types of words.

Examples:

 Abdicate, absolve, absolute, absorb, abject, abhor, abjure, abort, absorb,

abnormal, abrasive, abominable, ablation, etc.
Prefix bi-

The prefix bi- is very simple and it means twice, or two. It is used in various
compound words.

Examples:

 Biracial, biceps, biannual, bilingual, bipedal, billion, binoculars, bicycle,

bipartisan, bisect, bimonthly, bicarbonate, bifurcate, etc.
Prefix co-

The prefix co- means together, jointly, or mutually, and it is used with various

nouns, adjectives, or verbs. It can also be hyphenated sometimes.

Examples:
  Cohabitation, coauthor, copilot, co-conspirator, co-manage, coexist,
coaxial, co-captain, co-creator, co-anchor, etc.
Prefix en-

The prefix en- stems mainly from French. It means to confines something in a
place, or to gather in a place, as well as to cause something or someone o
be in a specific place. It is a very versatile prefix used in many different
compound words.

Examples:

 Enslave, entrust, enthrone, entomb, enshrine, encircle, enclose, entwine,

encapsulate, entangle, enable, endear, encase, etc.
Prefix fore-

The prefix fore- is fairly simple, and it means before, in front, or superior. It
is used with various types of words.

Examples:

 Forehead, forefront, forecast, forefathers, foreman, foremost,

foreground, foreshadow, foresee, foreword, forebode, etc.
Prefix retro-

The prefix retro- comes from Latin. It means before, or backwards. It is

commonly used with various types of words.

Examples:

 Retroactive, retrograde, retrospective, retrogress, retrorocket,

retroscape, retroglossal, retrogene, retrodiagnose, etc.
Prefix tele-

The prefix tele- means distant, or refers to a transmission over distance. It

is most commonly used with nouns and adjectives.

Examples:

 Television, telesales, telephone, teleplay, telegraph, telemarketing,

teleguide, telegram, telekinesis, telemonitor, etc.
Prefix be-

Be-, as a separate word, means to exist. Be- as a suffix comes from Old

English, and has been used in the English language ever since. It was first used
in the formation of verbs, but has since expanded in use.

Examples:
  Befriend, bewitch, besiege, beguile, become, berate, bejewel, bewail,
bedazzle etc.
Prefix an-

An- is another Old English prefix. It is used to shift words into a negative

meaning. This means that the words usually describe something without,
lacking, or just simply means not.

Examples:

 Anoxia, anastral, anegoic, anethical, anhistorical, aniconic, anisomeric,

anisotomic, anotia, anuria, etc.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What are the prefix words?

Prefixes are words that don’t mean anything on their own. They only serve
to change the meaning of the word they are attached to. Prefixes, because
of that, are not really words.

Prefixes are attached to the start of other words.

Example:

 DIS-
DISbelief, DISpleasure, DISconnect

DIS, by itself, does not mean anything. When it’s combined with another

word it changes the meaning.

Some prefixed are words that have a meaning on their own, but they are short
and can be attached to other words.

Words with the prefix for?

The prefix for is very old, and it comes from Scandinavian languages. It was
adopted by the English language and has been used for ages. Usually, the prefix
for is added to words when they are supposed to describe something that ends
up being worse than it started.

Many words that have the prefix for are old, and are not used very
commonly today.

Examples:
  Forbear, forbuy, forcut, fordo, forswearer, forgather, forhang, forlet,
forlive, forset, forslow, forstop, fortear, fortread, forwarn, forwork, etc.
Other words are used in English regularly, and the prefix has
been integrated into the word. In some words an E has been added between
the suffix and the rest of the word. In other modern versions the prefix has
remained the same

Examples:

 Forebode, forego, forefather, forbidden, forsake, foreshadow, foreskin,

forsworn
Prefix Herbicide

Prefix herbicide is an American product that is manufactured in the US, and used
to treat various types of grass. It is a selective herbicide and can be applied
to different types of grassy terrain, as well as come crops. PREFIX is the
name of manufacturer.

Are prefix allowed in scrabble?

Prefixes by themselves are not allowed in Scrabble. This means that just putting
any prefix such as post-, pre-, neo-, eb-, or others, is not allowed.

However, you can use words that are built with prefixes. Only complete
words are allowed in Scrabble. This means that you can use postmodernism,
instead of just modernism.

Can prefix be a noun / verb / plural?

Prefixes as grammatical elements are not complete words. They cannot be any

type of word except a prefix. Prefixes are used to change words and are
always added to another type of words.

The only case when prefixes are complete words is when two or more words
are hyphenated together. Some examples are jet-black, tar-runway, hot-
blooded, and others. In this case, two full words are connected with a hyphen.

Prefix and Postfix

Prefix and postfix are terms used in programming and coding. They
are connected to operators and operands. Each appears in a different
situation, and achieves different results.

A prefix is an expression where the operator appears in the expression

before the operands. This is then called a prefix expression.

A postfix appears in an expression when the operator appears in the

expression after the operands. This is then called a postfix expression.
Prefix and postfix expressions are used in C++, Java, and C#.

👉 Suffixes 
A suffix is a letter or a group of letters that is usually attached to the end of a
word to form a new word, as well as alter the way it functions grammatically.

Words with Suffixes

Depending on whether it is a noun, verb, adjective or adverb, a different suffix

would be required. For example, the verb read can be altered to become the
noun reader by adding the suffix -er. The same verb can also be turned into the
adjective  readable  by adding the suffix –able.

It is just as important to understand the definitions of suffixes as prefixes,

because they too help us to deduce the meanings of any new words that we learn.
I have listed some of the most common suffixes below:

👉 Suffix Examples

SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE

NOUN SUFFIXES

-acy state or quality democracy, accuracy, lunacy

-al the action or process of remedial, denial, trial, criminal

-ance, -ence state or quality of nuisance, ambience, tolerance

-dom place or state of being freedom, stardom, boredom

-er, -or person or object that does a reader, creator, interpreter, inventor,
specified action collaborator, teacher

-ism doctrine, belief Judaism, scepticism, escapism

-ist person or object that does a Geologist, protagonist, sexist, scientist,

specified action theorist, communist

-ity, -ty quality of extremity, validity, enormity

-ment condition enchantment, argument

-ness state of being heaviness, highness, sickness

-ship position held friendship, hardship, internship

 SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE

-sion, -tion state of being position, promotion, cohesion

VERB SUFFIXES

-ate become mediate, collaborate, create

-en become sharpen, strengthen, loosen

-ify, -fy make or become justify, simplify, magnify, satisfy

-ise, -ize become publicise, synthesise, hypnotise

ADJECTIVE
SUFFIXES

-able, -ible capable of being edible, fallible, incredible, audible

-al having the form or character of fiscal, thermal, herbal, colonial

-esque in a manner of or resembling picturesque, burlesque, grotesque

-ful notable for handful, playful, hopeful, skilful

-ic, -ical having the form or character of psychological, hypocritical, methodical,

nonsensical, musical

-ious, -ous characterised by pious, jealous, religious, ridiculous

-ish having the quality of squeamish, sheepish, childish

-ive having the nature of inquisitive, informative, attentive

-less without meaningless, hopeless, homeless

-y characterised by dainty, beauty, airy, jealousy

ADVERB
SUFFIXES

-ly related to or quality softly, slowly, happily, crazily, madly

-ward, -wards direction towards, afterwards, backwards, inward

-wise in relation to otherwise, likewise, clockwise

So as you can see, affixes can dramatically change the definitions of words.
Knowing the various prefixes and suffixes along with their meanings can really
help you to understand how words are used, and also how they should be spelled.

Although these groups of letters (affixes) are important and assist with forming
words, they are not words in their own right and cannot stand alone in a sentence.
If they are printed or written alone, then they should have a hyphen before or
after them to demonstrate that they are to be attached to other letters to form
words (the way I have listed them in the above tables).

MEDICAL, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, AND SCIENCE SUFFIXES:

-itis Medicine – meaning: infection, inflammation

-pathy Medicine – meaning: have a condition

-penia Medicine – meaning: deficiency

-tomy/otomy Medicine and biology – meaning: condition, procedures, etc.

-logy Science and medicine – meaning: various branches of science

-lysis Biology and science – meaning: decomposition, loosening, etc.

-osis Biology – meaning: infection, condition, state, etc.

-centisis Medicine – meaning: surgical puncture

suffixes for pain Medicine and biology

Suffix -itis

The suffix –itis is commonly used in medicine. It describes a type of infection,

condition, inflammation, or some medical diagnoses.

Examples:

Appendicitis, arthritis, barotitis, bronchitis, cerebritis, colitis,


conjunctivitis, encephalitis, gastritis, hepatitis, meningitis, etc.
Suffix -pathy

The suffix -pathy comes from Greek, and is commonly used in medicine. It
means to suffer from a disease, or have a condition.

Examples:

Biopathy, cerebropathy, colopathy, dyspathy, eupathy, genopathy,


homeopathy, immunopathy, leucopathy, mazopathy, neuropathy,
osteopathy, stomatopathy, etc.
Suffix -penia
The suffix -penia is common in medicine. It means to have a deficiency of
something.

Examples:

 Calcipenia, cytopenia, enzymopenia, kaliopenia, lipopenia, neutropenia,

sarcopenia, sideropenia, etc.
Suffix -tomy / -otomy

The suffixes -tomy or -otomy are often used in biology and medicine. They

refer to medical conditions, diagnoses, procedures, or operations.

Examples:

 Anatomy, autotomy, craniotomy, episiotomy, hysterotomy, laparotomy,

lobotomy, tracheotomy, polytomy, rumenotomy, tenotomy, uvulotomy,
etc.
Suffix -logy

The suffix –logy is commonly used in sciences, and medicine. It refers

to various branches of science, or to a body of knowledge. It can also
denote collection of stories and discourses.

Examples:

 Trilogy, duology, mythology, archaeology, anthropology, theology,

paleontology, toxicology, gynecology, biology, Egyptology, ethnology,
neurology, etc.
Suffix -lysis

The suffix -lysis of common biology, various sciences, and academics in

general. It refers to decomposition, loosening, breaking down, separation,
or decomposition.

Examples:

 Analysis, adipolysis, dermolysis, biolysis, catalysis, dialysis, plasmolysis,

radiolysis, tenolysis, sonolysis, virolysis, streptolysis, etc.
Suffix -osis

-Osis is a very common suffix in biology. -Osis means to be infected with

something, or means a condition, state, abnormal process, and disease.

Examples:

 Asbestosis, cyanosis, fibrosis, hypnosis, ketosis, mitosis, neurosis,

osteoporosis, psychosis, stenosis, thrombosis, tuberculosis, etc.
Suffix -centisis
General surgical punctures are described with the suffix -centisis. This
suffix is used to denote that a specific part of the body has been surgically
punctured. It can be used with almost any body part.

Examples:

 Abdominocentisis, paracentesis, arthrocentesis, celiocentesis,

lumbarocentesis, thoracentesis, etc.
Suffixes for Pain

In order to describe pain through the use of a suffix you can use any medical
suffix to present the condition. There is no specific suffix that denotes a
type of pain. Instead, you can use a variety of suffixes to describe a specific
type of condition, or pain in a specific area.

Suffix examples:

 -algia, -cardia, -emia, -itis, -lysis, -oma, -osis, -pathy, etc.

Word examples:

 Fibromyalgia, neuralgia, tachycardia, enamia, hypoglycemia, arthritis,

meningitis, paralysis, blastoma, glaucoma, proctosis, neuropathy, etc.

LIST OF NAME SUFFIXES / SUFFIX OF A NAME

Names can have suffixes depending on the person’s academic honors, religious
affiliation, political title, or family status.

Academic honors examples:

 Bachelor’s degree: John Doe, A.B, B.A., B.A., Hons, B.S., B.E., B.F.A.,
B.Tech., L.L.B, B.Sc., etc.
 Master’s degree: John Doe,  M.A., M.S., M.F.A., LL.M,  M.L.A., M.B.A.,
M.Sc., M.Eng etc.
 Professional doctorate: John Doe,  J.D.,  M.D.,  D.O.,  Pharm.D.,  D.Min.,
etc.
 Academic doctorate: John Doe, Ph.D., Ed.D., D.Phil., D.B.A., LL.D,
Eng.D., etc.
Political and religious title examples:

 Order of the British Empire: John Doe, O.B.E

 Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire: John Doe, K.B.E
 Doctor of Divinity: John Doe, D.D.
 Esquire: John Doe, Esq.
 Attorney: John Doe, CSA
The suffix Jr. is used after names. It means that a person is the offspring of
a father with the same name. Some famous examples are Martin Luther King
Jr., Cuba Gooding Jr. Sammy Davis Jr., John F. Kennedy Jr. and others.

Family status examples:

 John Doe, Jr.

 John Doe, Sr.

GRAMMATICAL SUFFIXES:
-ism Practice, action, principle, etc.

-ous Form of possession

-al Kind of, pertaining to, etc.

-ist Specific action, specific value, doctrine, etc.

-able Capability, susceptible of, fit for, etc.

-ic Something has a characteristic of something else

-ion Action, condition

-tion Action or result of something

-ed Past tense, adjectives from nouns or verbs, compound verbs

-ly Repeated in intervals

-ment Actions, results

-ness Quality, state

-er Specific action, job, origin, etc.

-ate Group of people, office, institution, etc.

Pertaining to -as, -al, -ar, -ary. -ic, -ical, -ous, and -ile

Suffix -ism
The -ism suffix comes from Ancient Greek. It is used to form action nouns
from verbs. They mean some kind of practice, action, principles, doctrines,
devotion, adherence, etc.

Examples:

 Baptism, aphorism, criticism, Lutherism, Protestantism, Palamism,

atheism, fanaticism, capitalism, nationalism, romanticism, vegetarianism,
Atticism, Americanism, racism, sexism, heterosexism, daturism,
rheumatism, etc.
Suffix -ous

The suffix -ous is used for adjectives. It means that something is full, or a

form of possession. It also means that something has a given quality.

Examples:

 Dangerous, famous, various, enormous, courageous, jealous, glorious,

superfluous, obvious, hideous, tremendous, curious, etc.
Suffix -al

The suffix -al is commonly used to make adjectives out of nouns. It

means kid of, pertaining to, having a form or character of something.

Examples:

 Seasonal, sensual, official, commercial, individual, spiritual, annual,

essential, celestial, usual, racial, intellectual, financial, classical, etc.
Suffix -ist

The suffix –ist is used for nouns. It means a person who performs a specific
action, produces something specific, plays a specific instrument, holds a
specific value, has a specific doctrine, and others.

Examples:

 Archaeologist, activist, evangelist, anthropologist, capitalist, communist,

Marxist, fascist, nationalist, conformist, machinist, novelist, cyclist,
masochist, etc.
Suffix -able

The suffix -able is commonly used for adjectives. I refers to someone or

something that is capable of something, susceptible of, fit for, tending or
given to something.

Examples:
  Movable, amendable, breakable, flammable, amicable, pleasurable,
impressionable, payable, reportable, detestable, capable, punishable,
fashionable, taxable, etc.
Suffix -ic

The suffix -ic is used to create adjectives out of other words. It originally
comes from Greek and Latin, and it means that something, or someone, has
the characteristic of something else.

Examples:

 Acidic, episodic, comedic, melodic, nomadic, periodic, idiotic, psychotic,

patriotic, athletic, poetic, magnetic, emphatic, kinetic, prosthetic, chaotic,
narcotic, academic, economic, etc.
Suffix -ion

The suffix -ion is of Latin origin. It denotes and action or condition, and it is

often used to form nouns out of adjectives.

Examples:

 Acceleration, devotion, religion, ration, concentration, communion,

diffusion, delusion, illusion, fabrication, hydration, meditation, infusion,
levitation, gestation, reaction, invigoration, etc.
Suffix -tion

The suffix –tion is used to form nouns. They mean an action of something,
or the result of something. 

Examples:

 Deletion, ignition, determination, resolution, action, justification,

intersection, connection, gumption, communication, starvation,
construction, relation, temptation, revolution, etc.
Suffix -ed

The suffix -ed is very versatile. It can be used in three different ways: 1) to
form the past tense for weak verbs, 2) to form adjectives out of nouns or
verbs to describe someone or something, 3) added to nouns or verbs in order to
form compound adjectives that are hyphenated.

Examples:

 1) Acted, danced, posted, lived, wanted, hated, played, tried, named,

called, walked, talked, used, created, etc.
 2) bearded, colored, angered, triggered, used, rugged, incorporated,
incarcerated, floored, stoned, etc.
  3) cone-shaped, green-tinted, loose-fitted, off-handed, amateur-
produced, well-defined, etc.
Suffix -ly

The suffix -ly is added to various words depending on the purpose. It can be
added to adverbs to form adjectives, or to nouns in order for them to mean
something that is repeated in certain intervals.

Examples:

 Gladly, gradually, secondly, thirdly, essentially, boldly, bravely, carefully,

generously, lowly, shortly, angrily, anxiously, suddenly, generally, etc.
 Hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly
Suffix -ness

The suffix -ness is very common and is used often. It is used on adjectives

and principles, in order to create abstract nouns that denote a quality or a
state.

Examples:

 Happiness, kindness, darkness, preparedness, consciousness,

effectiveness, callousness, laziness, loneliness, ugliness, fitness, dryness,
baldness, etc.
Suffix -er

The suffix -er is used in many different ways, and is a common suffix in English. It
can be attached to verbs in order to create an agent noun that describes a
person doing a specific action. It can also be used to create nouns that
describe a person’s job, location or origin, or a special characteristic.

Examples:

 Caterer, Icelander, southerner, villager, tattooer, cobbler, reader, rapper,

creditor, auditor, editor, recruiter, rider, writer, educator, calculator,
spectator, infiltrator, catcher, staffer, etc.
Suffix -ate

The suffix -ate is added often to nouns, adjective, and verbs. When it is added
to nouns it denotes a group of people, an office or institution, or
administrative region. When it is added to verbs it changes the verb to mean
that something is caused to change. When added to adjectives it means
that something is showing or full of something.

Examples:
  Electorate, caliphate, protectorate, consulate, magistrate, regulate,
vacate, activate, disseminate, obfuscate, confiscate, passionate,
considerate, obstinate, celibate, etc.
Suffixes that mean Pertaining To

There are multiple suffixes that mean something pertains to something

else. These are: -as, -al, -ar, -ary. -ic, -ical, -ous, and -ile. Some words
incorporate more than one suffix.

Examples:

 Clinical, surgical, conscious, versatile, necessary, sub-par, etc.

BANK ACCOUNT SUFFIX

What does Bank account Suffix mean?

Account numbers and card numbers are divided into sections. While

the prefix denotes the bank issuing the card, the body is the account
numbers, and the suffix is the account type.

The suffix is important because it lets the bank know which type of account is
being used, and that way customers can’t access operations not approved
for the type of account. The suffix is made up of two to three numbers.

Different numbers describe a different type of account. There are various

types of accounts, and each has a unique number profile for a specific
bank.

Examples:

 Cheque account – 00, Number 2 account – 02, Fixed account – 03,

Savings account – 30, Credit card account – 40, Thrift club account – 50,
Term deposit account – 81

Recommended for you:

How to Remember Rules of Grammar, Idioms and Vocabulary
Use of Modal Verbs in English Grammar

👉 Combining Forms
When you are learning the different types of prefixes, it is important to remember
that not every word containing these combinations is a prefix. Sometimes words
have ‘combining forms’, which look very similar to prefixes but work differently!

Let me explain….

As you know, a prefix is a letter or a group of letters that appears at the beginning
of words, but it can also be removed from the base word, and the word would
still be a word without it, even if the meaning changes.

For example, non-  means ‘not’ or ‘without’, this is used in words such as

‘nonsense’. The word ‘sense‘ can be separated from the prefix and it would still
be a word on its own, even if the meaning is different.

Combining forms are similar to prefixes, and are sometimes known as ‘chameleon
prefixes’, because they act like them and appear at the beginning of words like
them, BUT the combining form is intrinsic to the word, meaning it is a part of the
word and cannot be removed.

They are called ‘chameleons’, because they change their spelling and physical
form to suit the word they are attached to!

So, combining forms act as prefixes but are different, because the remaining
letters cannot be separated to form an independent word.

Here are some examples of prefixes that are also ‘combining forms’:

COMBINING
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE MEANING EXAMPLE
FORM

com-, with, comprise, com-, con- with, jointly companion, comrade,

con- alongside connote community

contra- against contraindicate contra- against contraceptive, contradict

de- opposite devalue de- down, away descend

ex- former ex-husband ex- out exhort

a- not, without amoral a-, an- not, without apathy, anaemic

in- not inconvenient in- into inebriate, indulge

homo- same homograph, homo- same homogeneous

homophone

magn- great magnate magn- great magnificent,

magnanimous,
magnitude, magnify
 COMBINING
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE MEANING EXAMPLE
FORM

para- beside paragraph, para- beside paradox

paramedic

sub- under submarine sub- under substitute

trans- across transnational, trans- through, transmit, transcend

transparent across

tri- three triangle, tripod tri- three triceps, triathlon