Prefixes

Reference 5
Word formation
One advantage of English vocabulary is that many words are formed from the same root. As a result,
if you know the word friend, it is easy to understand other words from the same root such as friendly,
friendship, unfriendly and befriend. Learning what prefixes (for example un-, mis-, extra-) and suffixes
(-ify -ship, -less) mean can help you to extend your vocabulary in a relatively effortless way. When you
meet a new word, it is a good idea to write it down with other words using the same root + different
prefixes and suffixes. Thus, you might write down together, for example, amoral, morality, immoral,
morally, moralise, moralist, moralistic. See Unit 17 for more work on prefixes and suffixes.
Variation occurs in the use of hyphens, especially in newspapers and popular magazines. For
example the prefix de- may or may not be followed by a hyphen (decontaminate, de-escalate), but
some prefixes are almost always used with a hyphen (e.g. ex-, semi-). Train yourself to be aware of
any prefixes which regularly occur in your academic area and make a note of how they are usually
written. Note that North American English makes much less use of a hyphen after prefixes than
British English.
The following table includes some of the major prefixes and suffixes that are useful as far as
academic vocabulary is concerned. Familiarising yourself with these will not only help you to work
out what unfamiliar words mean but will also help you to remember those words. Space is provided
for you to add further examples of your own.
prefix meaning examples further examples of your

own
a- without amoral /ˌeɪˈmɒrəl/, apolitical
/ˌeɪpəˈlɪtɪkəl/, atypical
/ˌeɪˈtɪpɪkəl/]
ante- before antecedent, antedate
anti- against, opposing anti-establishment,

anti-globalisation, anti-
inflammatory
arch- more extreme arch-capitalist, arch-rebel
auto- self auto-dial, auto-rotate
bi- two, twice biped, bisect
circum- round circumnavigate, circumvent
co- with co-pilot, co-edit
col-, com-, with collaborator, compose,
con- concur
contra-, against, opposing contra-revolutionary,
counter- contraception,
counter-measure, counter-
intuitive
de- opposite decentralise, declassify
action
dia across diagonal, diameter
dis- opposite action disagree, disprove, distrust,
or state disbelief, disproportionate
dys- abnormal dyslexia, dysfunctional
e- electronic e-literate, e-book
128 Academic Vocabulary in Use

eco- relating to the eco-disaster
environment
equi- equal equidistant, equilateral
ex- previously ex-president, ex-student
extra- very extra-bright, extra-strong
extra- outside extra-curricular, extra-sensory
hyper- having too much hypersensitive
il-, im-, in-, not illiterate, improbable,
ir- indecision, irrelevance
in- movement to or input, inset, intake, import
towards the inside of
something
inter- between, connected interactive, interbreed
intra- within intra-generational,
intramuscular
kilo- thousand kilogram, kilowatt
macro- large in size or scope macro-economics, macro-
scale
mal- badly maladjusted, malnutrition
micro- small in size or scope micro-economics, micro-scale

mis- wrongly mistranslate,
misunderstanding
mono- one monochrome, monoculture
multi- many multicultural, multi-level
neo- based on something neo-classical, neo-
older but in a new conservative
form
non- not non-believer, non-competitive
out- more, to a greater outnumber, outlive
extent
over- too much over-abundance, overflow,
overexcited
post- after post-examination, post-
modern
pre- before pre-existing, pre-pay
pro- in favour of pro-liberal, pro-feminist
pseudo- false pseudo-intellectual, pseudo-
science
quasi- almost, not quite quasi-academic, quasi-legal
re- again rediscover, redefine, rename
retro backwards retrogressive, retrospective
semi- partly semi-organic, semi-precious
sub- under, lesser sub-heading, sub-species
super- above, bigger superpower, supersonic
trans- across transcontinental, transcribe
ultra- extreme ultra-sensitive, ultrasound
Academic Vocabulary in Use 129

un- not uncertain, unusual, unscrew,
unplug
under- insufficient underemployed,
undernourished
well- useful, successful well-designed, well-written,
well-established
130 Academic Vocabulary in Use

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Reference 5

prefix meaning examples further examples of your

anti- against, opposing anti-establishment,

128 Academic Vocabulary in Use

micro- small in size or scope micro-economics, micro-scale

Academic Vocabulary in Use 129

130 Academic Vocabulary in Use

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