Word formation prefixes and suffixes in English: Word formation examples lists

What is word formation in grammar? and what are the methods of word formation?

Word formation definition:

Merriam Webster dictionary defines word formation as the formation of words in a language by
the processes of derivation and composition. We add a prefix or suffix to make new words.

Word formation suffixes and prefixes (important word formation lists)

All prefixes and Suffixes (prefix and suffix words)

Generally, we use prefixes and suffixes to make new words.

Word formation prefixes

 Prefix meaning
A prefix is defined as a letter or group of letters that we add to the beginning of a word to form
new words. Prefixes can be used to guess the meaning of words.

Below is a high-quality poster that can be printed out. The poster contains prefixes list, their
meanings, and examples. Also, there is a link to an outstanding video on prefixes

 Prefix examples
Look at the words tie, retie and untie. What do they have in common? ( prefix of tie)
They all include the word tie. So the word tie is the root word or base word. Adding a prefix
changes the meaning of the root.
Adding a prefix changes the meaning of the root.

Here are lists of common prefixes and suffixes, along with their meanings and examples, that we
use in word formation.

The word formation examples list below shows prefixes (word building prefixes)/ All prefixes
 words prefixes
The prefixes in-, im-, il-, ir-, un-, dis- have the same meaning. They mean ‘opposite of’ or ‘not’.
When we add these prefixes to a word, they give its opposite.

 Prefixes rules and tips:

 im– is used before a word beginning with ‘m’ or ‘p’ {e.g. Immature, impatient…}
Adjectives beginning with c usually take the prefix in– {e.g. incorrect…}
 il– is used before a word beginning with ‘l’ {e.g. illiterate, illegal…}
 ir– is used before a word beginning with ‘r’ {e.g. irregular, irrelevant…} What does the
prefix ir mean? The prefix ir means ‘opposite of’ or ‘not’

 There are no rules for in– , un– and dis–

 We can also use the prefixes un– and dis– with verbs to form their opposites.
(e.g. untie, unfasten, unpack, undo, unlock, undress, disagree, disappear, dislike, disqualify, dis
obey, disconnect etc.)
 dis meaning (with adjectives, adverbs and nouns): The prefix dis- in adjectives, adverbs and
nouns mean ‘not’ or ‘opposite of’ (dishonest, disagreeably, disadvantage)
 in prefix meaning (meaning of the prefix in-) (in prefix): The prefix in means ‘not’ or
‘opposite of’ (in prefix words: incorrect (= not
correct), infinite, inaccurate, inactive, inadequate, incapable, incoherent, incomplete, indirect…
) (words with the prefix in)
 The prefix of able can be dis-, un– or en-. Here are some examples: disable (verb), unable
(adjective), enable (verb).
Prefix video

 Word formation suffixes

What is a suffix in English? /What does suffix mean? / Suffix meaning formation?
A suffix is the letters or syllables that we add to the end of a word to create new words.
 suffix for
formation

Knowing the different suffixes can enable you to guess the meaning of new words and recognize
whether the word is a verb, a noun, an adjective, an adverb, etc.
The suffix can change the spelling of the original word. For example, the -e ending of the
verb ‘create’ and the adjective ‘wise’ is omitted when the suffix is added.
 Create → creation
 wise→ wisdom
Adding the suffixes change the spelling of the original word.
In the English language, not only do suffixes change the spelling of the original word but they
also change the word’s part of speech. For example, the suffix ly changes adjectives to adverbs.
(brave (adjective) → bravely (adverb), correct → correctly )
Here is a list of common suffixes (suffixes list/suffix examples)
 suffixes examples

Suffixes tips:
 The suffix less meaning (less definition): The suffix less means ‘without’.
 al suffix meaning: The suffix al in adjectives means ‘having the quality of’ or ‘connected
with’. The suffix al in nouns means ‘the state or process of’
 able suffix meaning: The suffix able means ‘that can or must be’ or ‘having the quality of’
The table below displays more suffixes with meaning and examples (suffix words)