5

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Word formation reference

50 common prefixes and suffixes

Prefixes and suffixes in italics are often used in more technical or academic contexts.
Prefix/suffix

Meaning

Added to

Forms

Examples

-able

this can be done

verbs

adjectives

doable, recoverable

anti-

against, opposed to

nouns

adjectives

antisocial, antiestablishment

-ation

process or product of an
activity

verbs

nouns

authorization, realization

auto-

relating to self, or self-acting

adjectives, nouns

adjectives, nouns

autobiographical, autopilot

bi-

two, having two

adjectives, nouns

adjectives, nouns

biannual, bicycle

co-

together

verbs, nouns

verbs, nouns

cohabit, co-driver

cyber-

relating to computers or the

Internet

nouns

nouns

cyberspace, cybercafe

de-

undo an action or process

verbs

verbs

decode, de-ice

dis-

not, or the opposite of

adjectives, verbs

adjectives, verbs

dishonest, disappear

10

e-

relating to the Internet

and email

adjectives, nouns

adjectives, nouns

e-commerce, email

11

-ee

the object of an action

verbs

nouns

interviewee, payee

12

-en

make something have this

quality

adjectives, nouns

verbs

brighten, strengthen

13

-er/-or

the person who does this

verbs

nouns

racer, editor

14

ex-

former

nouns

nouns

ex-husband, ex-manager

15

-ful

having or providing this

quality

nouns

adjectives

wonderful, plentiful

16

-ify

make something become

adjectives, nouns

verbs

beautify, purify

17

in- / il- /
im- / ir-

not, or the opposite of

adjectives

adjectives

inadequate, illogical,
impossible, irrational

18

inter-

between

adjectives, verbs

adjectives, verbs

interdepartmental,
interconnect

19

-ism

system or tendency of thought

nouns

nouns

capitalism, sexism

20

-ist

person who believes or does

something

nouns

nouns

racist, violinist

21

-ity

a quality, often abstract

adjectives

nouns

purity, security

22

-ize

to become, make, or make like adjectives, nouns

verbs

Anglicize, publicize

23

-less

without

nouns

adjectives

penniless, meaningless

24

-like

similar to, typical of

nouns

adjectives

childlike, plant-like

25

-ment

the action or result of

verbs

nouns

encouragement, employment

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prefixes
suffixes
50 50
common
prefixes
andand
suffixes
50 common
common
prefixes
and
suffixes
Prefixes
and
ininitalic
as
ininmore
or
contexts.
Prefixes
and suffixes
in italic
as
often
used used
in
more
technical
or academic
contexts.
Prefixes
andsuffixes
suffixes
italic
asoften
often
used
moretechnical
technical
oracademic
academic
contexts.
Meaning
Prefix/suffix
Meaning
Meaning
Prefix/suffix
Prefix/suffix

Added
Added
to to
Added
to

FormsForms
Forms

Examples
Examples
Examples

26

the
26
middle
of of
themiddle
middle
of
mid26 midmid- in theinin

nounsnouns
nouns

mid-century,
mid-term
adjectives,
mid-century,
mid-term
mid-century,
mid-term
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns

27

bad
or
27
wrongly
bad
orwrongly
wrongly
mis27 mismis- bad or

nouns,
nouns,
verbs verbs
nouns,
verbs

misbehaviour,
mismanage
nouns,
mismanage
misbehaviour,
mismanage
nouns,
verbs verbs
nouns,
verbs misbehaviour,

28

one,
28
one one
one,having
having
one
mono28 monomono-one, having

nounsnouns
nouns

nounsnouns
nouns

29

new,
ininaaform
later
29
in aor
new,
orlater
laterform
form
neo29 neoneo- new, or

neo-classical,
neo-natal
adjectives,
neo-classical,
neo-natal
neo-classical,
neo-natal
adjectives,
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns

30

quality
of,
30
of, character
of of
quality
of,character
character
of
-ness
30 -ness
-nessquality

adjectives
adjectives
adjectives

nounsnouns
nouns

sadness,
roughness
sadness,
roughness
sadness,
roughness

31

this
31
this quality
having
thisquality
quality
-ous
31 -ous
-ous havinghaving

nounsnouns
nouns

adjectives
adjectives
adjectives

poisonous,
spacious
poisonous,
spacious
poisonous,
spacious

32

greater
verbs
32
than, than,
better
than than
greater
than,better
better
than verbs verbs
out32 outout- greater

verbs verbs
verbs

outdo,
outlast
outdo,
outlast
outdo,
outlast

33

overfriendly,
overreaction,
adjectives,
overfriendly,
overreaction,
overfriendly,
overreaction,
adjectives,
nouns,
adjectives,
adjectives,
than
too
nouns,
adjectives,
nouns,
33
than
too much
moreusual,
thanusual,
usual,
toomuch
muchadjectives,
over33 overover-more more
overcook
nouns,
overcook
nouns,
verbs verbs
nouns,
verbs overcook
verbs verbs
verbs

34

relating
to
34
to light
relating
tolight
light
photo34 photophoto-relating

photograph,
photosynthesis
adjectives,
photograph,
photosynthesis
photograph,
photosynthesis
adjectives,
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns

35

35
many
poly35 polypoly- manymany

polymorphous,
polytheism
adjectives,
polymorphous,
polytheism
polymorphous,
polytheism
adjectives,
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns

36

36
after
post36 postpost-after after

postgraduate,
post-war
adjectives,
postgraduate,
post-war
postgraduate,
post-war
adjectives,
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns

37

37
before
pre37 prepre- beforebefore

pre-war,
prehistory
adjectives,
pre-war,
prehistory
pre-war,
prehistory
adjectives,
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns

38

resistant
against
something
nouns
38
resistant
against
something
resistant
against
somethingnounsnouns
proof38 proofproof-

39

false
or
39
false or
pretend
false
orpretend
pretend
pseudo39 pseudopseudo-

40

psychometric,
psychoanalyst
adjectives,
psychometric,
psychoanalyst
psychometric,
psychoanalyst
adjectives,
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
connected
with
the
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
40
connected
with the
mind
connected
with
themind
mind adjectives,
psycho40 psychopsycho-

41

or
41
partly
half
orpartly
partly
semi41 semisemi- half orhalf

42

aastate
to
nouns
42
relating
to a roles
or
staterelating
relating
toaaroles
rolesor
ornounsnouns
-ship
42 -ship
-shipa state
relations
relations
relations

43

less
than
43
belowbelow
lessusual,
thanusual,
usual,
below
sub43 subsub- less than

subnormal,
subheading
adjectives,
subnormal,
subheading
subnormal,
subheading
adjectives,
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns

44

than
44
than
aboveabove
moreusual,
thanusual,
usual,
above
super44 supersuper-more more

superhuman,
superstructure
adjectives,
superhuman,
superstructure
superhuman,
superstructure
adjectives,
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns

45

relating
to
45
relating
to heat
relating
toheat
heat
thermo45 thermothermo-

thermodynamic,
adjectives,
thermodynamic,
thermodynamic,
adjectives,
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
thermometer
thermometer
thermometer

46

46
havinghaving
three three
three,
having
three
tri46 tritri- three,three,

tripod,
tricycle
adjectives,
tripod,
tricycle
tripod,
tricycle
adjectives,
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns

47

not,
the
47
theor
opposite
of of
not,
or
theopposite
opposite
of
un47 unun- not, or

unfamiliar,
adjectives,
undo undo
unfamiliar,
undo
adjectives,
verbs verbs
adjectives,
verbsunfamiliar,
adjectives,
verbs verbs
adjectives,
verbsadjectives,

48

underpriced,
undercook
adjectives,
undercook
underpriced,
undercook
adjectives,
verbs verbs
adjectives,
verbsunderpriced,
less
than
too
verbs verbs
adjectives,
verbsadjectives,
48
less than
too much
lessusual,
thanusual,
usual,
toomuch
much adjectives,
under48 underunder-

49

the
49
direction
of of
thedirection
direction
of
-ward
49 -ward
-wardin theinin

50

50
-y50 -y-y

the
havinghaving
the quality
of of
having
thequality
quality
of
something
something
something

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adjectives
adjectives
adjectives

monopod,
monorail
monopod,
monorail
monopod,
monorail

adjectives
adjectives
adjectives

waterproof,
windproof
waterproof,
windproof
waterproof,
windproof

adjectives
adjectives
adjectives

pseudo-intellectual,
pseudo-intellectual,
pseudo-intellectual,
pseudo-science
pseudo-science
pseudo-science

semi-complete,
semi-skilled
adjectives,
semi-complete,
semi-skilled
semi-complete,
semi-skilled
adjectives,
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
adjectives,
nounsnouns
adjectives,
nouns
nounsnouns
nouns

friendship,
membership
friendship,
membership
friendship,
membership

nounsnouns
nouns

adjectives
adjectives
adjectives

westward,
homeward
westward,
homeward
westward,
homeward

nounsnouns
nouns

adjectives
adjectives
adjectives

muddy
sandy,sandy,
muddy
sandy,
muddy

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