Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots
Definitions and Examples
Prefix / Meaning / Examplesa, an / without/not / amoral
amorphous
anarchy
anemia
anonymous
apathy
apolitical
asexual
atypical
ante / before / antecedent
antebellum
antedate
antediluvian
anti* / against / antipathy
antisocial
antiseptic
antithesis
antibody
antifreeze
antigen
antibiotic
auto / self / autobiography
bene / Good, well / beneficial
benefactor
benevolent
benediction
beneficiary
benefit
bi / two / bicycle
bilateral
circum / around / circumnavigate
circumflex
circumstance
circumference
circumlocution
circumvent
circumscribe
circulatory
de* / from, down, away / detach
deploy
derange
deodorize
devoid
deflate
degenerate
deice
di, bi / two / dichotomy
divide
diverge
diglycerides
bifurcate
biweekly
bivalve
biannual
dis* / not / disallow
dissuade
disconnect
disproportion
disrespect
disarray
en,em, in* / to put into or onto / encapsulate
incarcerate
fore* / before; earlier / forebode
foreground
hyper / above / hyperactive
hypertensive
hyperbolic
hypersensitive
hyperventilate
hyperkinetic
hypo / below / hypothermia
hypotension
hypodermic
hypoglycemia
hypoallergenic
in, im, ir, ill* / not / inviolate
innocuous
intractable
innocent
impregnable
impossible
inter* / between / international
intercept
intermission
interoffice
internal
intermittent
mal / bad / malevolent
malformation
maladjusted
malady
malcontent
malfeasance
maleficent
micro / small / microscope
microprocessor
microfiche
micrometer
micrograph
mid* / middle / midair
midsummer
mis* / bad, wrong / misinform
misinterpret
mispronounce
misnomer
mistake
misogynist
misconduct
multi / many / multiple
multitude
multipartite
multiply
multipurpose
neo / new / neophyte
neologism
neonate
neoclassic
non* / not / nonferrous
nonabrasive
nondescript
poly / many / polytheism
polytheist
polygon
polygamy
polymorphous
pre* / before / premier
preview
premium
prescient
pro / for / protagonist
re* / back, again / report
realign
retract
revise
regain
retro / back, backwards / retroactive
retrorocket
retrospect
retrogression
retroactive
semi* / half / semifinal
semiconscious
semiannual
semimonthly
semicircle
sub* / under, below / submerge
submarine
substandard
subnormal
subvert
super* / above / superior
suprarenal
superscript
supernatural
supersede
trans* / across / transoceanic
transmit
transport
transducer
un* / not / uncooked
unharmed
unintended
under* / Beneath, below / underground
undersize
Suffixes / Meaning
Part of Speech / Examples
al
ial** / aspect of
adjective / nominal
focal
special
filial
remedial
ed** / Used to form the past tense/participle of regular verbs / bored
tiled
en** / adjective
verb / golden
wooden
written
frozen
lessen
deafen
frighten
er** / changes a verb to a noun / write – writer
sing - singer
or** / changes a verb to a noun / actor
governor
est** / Makes adjectives and adverbs superlative / greatest
earliest
ful** / full of, having some or much
adjective / hopeful
useful
ible, able** / capable, can do
adjective / usable
notable
comfortable
incredible
terrible
visible
ic** / adjective / neurotic
electronic
historic
ing** / in the process of, noun from verb, noun / doing
acting
bedding
stuffing
roofing
ion,
tion,
ation, ition** / noun
noun that has been altered from a process
state or concept of
noun / action
companion
evaporation
introduction
invitation
pronunciation
starvation
ity, ty** / expressing state or condition
noun / normality
formality
banality
certainty
loyalty
ive, ative, itive** / makes the noun an adjective
adjective / defensive
aggressive
passive
talkative
lucrative
affirmative
sensitive
less** / lack of
adjective / homeless
useless
careless
ly** / like, having the attributes of
adjective
adverb / stately
monthly
quickly
ment** / abstract noun / movement
amazement
government
ness** / abstract noun / kindness
ruthlessness
darkness
ous, eous, ious** / adjectival suffix
adjective / porous
disastrous
nervous
courteous
delicious
ambitious
religious
vivacious
s, es** / forms plural nouns / letters
ashes
y** / having the quality of, inclined to
adjective / runny
messy
chewy
Roots / Meaning / Examples
volve / roll / evolve
involve
revolve
revolver
revolution
vid / see / evidence
video
provide
providence
act / do / action
actor
react
transact
enact
graph, gram / to write / polygraph
grammar
biography
graphite
telegram
autograph
lithograph
historiography
graphic
loc / place / allocate
dislocate
locate
location
port / to carry / import
export
portable
porter
transport
jac, ject / to throw / reject
eject
project
trajectory
interject
defected
inject
phon / sound / telephone
phonics
phonograph
phonetic
homophone
microphone
pop / people / population
populate
populous
popular
aud / hear, listen / auditorium
audio
audition
man / hand / manage
manual
manufacture
manicure
emancipate
mot / move / demote
motion
mobile
motor
motionless
ped / foot / pedal
pedestrian
centipede
impede
spec / look / inspect
expect
specimen
specific
spectator
respect
*Prefixes that account for 97% of words used
** Suffixes that account for 93% of words used
(Source: Phonics from Ato Z by Wiley Blevins)