Prefix Meanings and Definitions

A comprehensive list of prefixes and their meanings to aid in understanding the terminology.

ad-

toward, to

ana-

against, up, backward

apo-

derived, separated from

cata-

down

circum-

around

di-, dif-, dir-, dis-

not, separated

dia-

through

ecto-

outside or outward

endo-

within

epi-

over, above, upon

ex-

out of, away from

exo-

external, on the outside, outward

extra-

without, on the outside

infra-

positioned beneath, below, under

inter-

between

intra-

within, in

meso-

middle, median

para-

near, adjacent, beside

per-

through, intensely

peri-

around, about, near

retro-

behind, backward

sub-

less than, under, inferior, below or beneath

supra-

above, over, excessive

trans-

across, through

auto-

self

meta-

behind, after, beyond

para-

beside, abnormal, involving two parts

a-

without

ambi-

both, around

an-

without, no, lack

anti-

against, opposing

brady-

slow

co-, col-, com-, con-, cor-

together

contra-

against

de-

away from, cessation

dys-

abnormal, difficult, painful

eu-

well, good, normal

hyper-

above normal, overly

hypo-

below normal

mal-

bad, inadequate

re-

again, backward

semi-

half

syl-, sym-, syn-, sys-

together, union, joined

tachy-

fast

ultra-

beyond, excessive

un-

not