Prefix  

Meaning

Example

a-, ac-, ad-, af-, ag-,

al-, an-, ap-, as-, at-

in addition to 

aside, accompany, adjust, affix, aggression, allocate, annihilate, associate, attend. 

a-, an-

not, without

apolitical, anemia

ab-, as-

away from, off

abnormal, absolve

ad, af

near, toward

adrenal, afferent

amphi-

both, on both sides, around 

amphibiotic, amphistylar, amphithecium

anglo-

English

Anglo-Saxon

anti-

against 

antitoxin, antipathy

aqua-

water 

aquatic, aquacade

archi-, arch-

chief, highest; primitive

archiepiscopal, archenton

arthro- , arthr

joint

arthritis, arthropathy

auto-

self 

autoimmune, automotive

bi-

two or twice 

biceps, biped, biennial

bio-

life; biological

biology, biome; biophysics

cent-, centi-

1 hundredth, 1 hundred

centilitre, centipede

cephalo-

head 

cephalothorax

circum-

around

circumvent

co-, cog-, col-,

com-, con-, cor-

together, with

cohesiveness, cognate, collaborate, commitment, correct

contra-

against, opposite

contradictic

chloro-

green

chloroplast, chlorosis

chromo-

color

chromoplast

de-

to do the opposite, to take away from

decrease

deci-

one tenth

decilitre

dendr-, dendri-

tree

dendrite, dendrochronology

dent, dont

tooth 

denture, orthodontist

di-, dif-, dis-

apart, separate, two, opposite, not

divide (separate), differ (to be unlike)

diatomic (two), distrust (opposite of)

dis, dys

ill or bad

disease

e-, ex-

out, out of, from

emit, expel

eco-

habitat or household

ecology

ecto-

outer

ectoderm

endo-

inner 

endoderm

epi-

upon, beside

epilogue

euro-

European

Eurocommunism

ex-

former

ex-president

extra-

beyond

extraordinary

hydro-

water, liquid, hydrogen

hydroelectric, hydrodynamics, hydrochloride

il-, im-, in-, ir-

not, in 

illegible, imposter, inaction

in-, im-, il-

in, into

instead, import

inter-

between, among

interject, international

intro-

into

introspection

kilo-

thousand

kilogram

mal-

bad

malfunction, malnutrition

mis-

wrongly, badly

misconduct, misunderstand

milli-

one thousandth

millisecond

mini-

small

minicar

mono-

one, single

monologue

multi-

many

multiply, 

nephro-, nephr-

kidney

nephritis, nephrotomy

neuro-

nerve

neurology

non-

not

nonsense

omni-

all 

omnivore,  omnidirectional

ortho-

straight 

orthotropous

osteo-, oste-

bone 

osteopath

oto-

ear 

otology

over-

exercise, above

overwork

ovi-, oo-

egg 

oviduct, oocyte

out-

more or better tha others 

outstanding, outperfrom

para-

beside, beyond

paradox, paranormal

patho-

disease

pathology, pathogen

peri-

around, near

pericardium, perinatal

phago-

eating, consuming

phagocyte

pheno-

showing; related to benzene

phenotype; phenol

photo-

light

photograph

poly-

many; excessive; abnormal

polyatomic, polydipsia

post-

after, behind 

postpone

pre-

before

precede

pro-

for, in favour

propel

proto-

first in time; first formed

protolithic, protohuman

pseudo-

false

pseudopod

re-

again

readmit

renal

kidney

adrenal glands

retro-

backward 

retrospect

rhino-

nose

rhinoceros

sapro-

rotten

saprogenic

semi-

half

semiannual

sub-

under, below

subcontract

super-

over, above

superimpose

sym-,  syn-

together, at the same time

symphathy, synchronos

tetra-

four

tetrapod

therm- , thermo-

heat  

thermometer

trans-

across, beyond, change

transform  

tri-

three

tripod

un-

not, against, opposite

unceasing

under-

not enough

underfund, undervalue

uni-

one

uniform

xero-

dryness  

xerophyte

zo-, zoo-

animal 

zoology

zyg-

united 

zygote