Prefixes

Meaning

Examples

dis-

not

disappear

extra-

more than

extraordinary

inter-

between or among

international

mis-

badly or wrongly

misjudge

non-

not

nonsense

post-

after

postgame

pre-

before

preseason

super-

bigger or better than

supersize

sub-

under or below

subzero

Suffixes

Meaning

Examples

-able

capable or worthy of

believable

-en

to be or have something; to be of or like something, to make

brighten, wooden

-er

to be more of

stronger

-less

without

sleepless

-ly

done in a certain way

strangely

-ment

a way of being

refreshment

-ness

state of being

darkness

-or

someone or something that does something

inventor, actor

-ship

state of being

friendship

-tion

connected with an action or process

addition, attention

Prefixes

Meaning

Examples

dis-

not

dislike

fore-

before

foresee

in-

not

insecure

mis-

wrong; badly

mislead

multi-

more than one

multi-colored

non-

not

nonstick

post-

after

postgame

semi-

partly; half

semisweet

un-

not

untrue

uni-

single; one

unicycle

Suffixes

Meaning

Examples

-able

worthy or capable of

fixable

-an

person

guardian, historian

-dom

place; state of being

kingdom, wisdom

-less

lacking

meaningless

-ly

attributes a quality

excitedly, merrily

-ness

state; condition

happiness, softness

-ous

full of

marvelous

Prefixes

Meaning

Examples

anti-

against

antibiotic

dis-

not

disagree

en-/em-

to make

empower

ex-

out

excavate

fore-

in advance; in front

foregoing

inter-

between

interstate

mis-

wrong

miscast

mono-

single

monologue

non-

not

nonnegotiable

post-

after

postseason

pre-

before

prepaid

pro-

in favor of

protagonist

re-

again

regain

semi-

half; partly

semicircle

sub-

under or below

submarine

un-

not

unexpected

uni-

single

universal

Suffixes

Meaning/Function

Examples

-able

worthy or capable of

loveable

-ation

forms nouns or verbs

motivation (based on verb motivate)

-ful

having or being

delightful

-ible

worthy or capable of

sensible

-ic

consisting of; relating to

icelandic

-ism

act, state, or theory

Darwinism (philosophy based on ideas of Darwin)

-ist

one who does something

pianist

-ive

being; tending toward

offensive

-less

lacking

aimless

-ly

attributes a quality

cautiously

-ment

state of; result

entanglement

-ness

state of something

loveliness

-ology

study of something

psychology

-ous

full of

joyous

-ward

in a specific direction

westward