Prefixes are added to the beginning of a word to create a new word.
They contribute specific types of meaning. For instance, when we add the prefix pre- to the word 1945, we create a new word pre-1945, meaning before 1945. The following are the main prefixes used in English, together with the kinds of meaning they contribute.
anti
against,opposed to anti-depressant, anti-nuclear, anti-war,
anti-Western
de
to reverse something decriminalise, de-activate, de-commission,
deform
dis
reverse of disagreement, disapprove, dislike, disqualify,
remove something disambiguate, disarm, disenfranchise, dislodge
extra
beyond extraterrestrial, extra-curricular, extra-mural,
extra-sensory
il-, im-, in-, ir
not illegal, illegible, illegitimate,
impatient, impossible, impolite,
inappropriate, inconceivable, intolerant,
irregular, irrelevant, irresponsible
inter
between international, inter-racial, intergalactic,
interwoven
mis
to do something miscalculate, misconstrue, miskick,
badly or incorrectly misunderstand
non
not non-European, non-resident, non-stick,
non-white
post
after post-1945, postgraduate, post-colonial, post-war
pre
before pre-1914, pre-war, predetermined, pre-set
pro
in favour of pro-life, pro-democracy, pro-Europe
re
to do something again re-apply, re-design, re-introduce, repaint
un
reverse of unclear, undemocratic, unnecessary, unusual,
remove something undress, unleash, unmask, unscrew
They contribute specific types of meaning. For instance, when we add the prefix pre- to the word 1945, we create a new word pre-1945, meaning before 1945. The following are the main prefixes used in English, together with the kinds of meaning they contribute.
against,opposed to anti-depressant, anti-nuclear, anti-war,
anti-Western
de
to reverse something decriminalise, de-activate, de-commission,
deform
dis
reverse of disagreement, disapprove, dislike, disqualify,
remove something disambiguate, disarm, disenfranchise, dislodge
extra
beyond extraterrestrial, extra-curricular, extra-mural,
extra-sensory
il-, im-, in-, ir
not illegal, illegible, illegitimate,
impatient, impossible, impolite,
inappropriate, inconceivable, intolerant,
irregular, irrelevant, irresponsible
inter
between international, inter-racial, intergalactic,
interwoven
mis
to do something miscalculate, misconstrue, miskick,
badly or incorrectly misunderstand
non
not non-European, non-resident, non-stick,
non-white
post
after post-1945, postgraduate, post-colonial, post-war
pre
before pre-1914, pre-war, predetermined, pre-set
pro
in favour of pro-life, pro-democracy, pro-Europe
re
to do something again re-apply, re-design, re-introduce, repaint
un
reverse of unclear, undemocratic, unnecessary, unusual,
remove something undress, unleash, unmask, unscrew
