Roots, Prefixes, & Suffixes

a- / an-

Means without or not. Example: amoral = without morals

ab- / abs-

Means away from or off. Example: abstract = pulled away from the concrete

ad- / ac- / af-

Means to or toward. Example: adhere = stick to

ambi- / amphi-

Means both or around. Example: ambidextrous = uses both hands well

ante-

Means before. Example: antecedent = something that came before

anti-

Means against or opposite. Example: antidote = something against a poison

bene- / bon-

Means good or well. Example: benevolent = wanting to do good

circum-

Means around. Example: circumference = distance around a circle

com- / con- / col-

Means with or together. Example: collaborate = work together

contra- / counter-

Means against. Example: contradict = speak against

de-

Means down, away, or reverse. Example: descend = go down

dis-

Means apart, not, or opposite. Example: disagree = not agree

ex- / e-

Means out of or from. Example: extract = pull out

extra-

Means beyond. Example: extraordinary = beyond ordinary

in- / im- / il- / ir-

Means not or into. Example: invisible = not visible

inter-

Means between or among. Example: international = between nations

intra- / intro-

Means within. Example: introvert = turns attention inward

mal- / male-

Means bad or evil. Example: malicious = full of bad intent

mis-

Means wrong or bad. Example: mislead = lead in the wrong direction

multi-

Means many. Example: multitude = a great many

non-

Means not. Example: nonessential = not essential

ob- / op-

Means against or toward. Example: obstruct = block against

peri-

Means around. Example: perimeter = distance around the outside

post-

Means after. Example: postwar = after a war

pre-

Means before. Example: predict = say before it happens

pro-

Means forward or in favor of. Example: promote = move forward

re-

Means again or back. Example: return = come back

sub- / suc- / suf-

Means under or below. Example: submarine = under the sea

super- / sur-

Means above or over. Example: superior = above others

trans-

Means across or beyond. Example: transport = carry across

un-

Means not or reverse. Example: unable = not able

uni- / mono-

Means one. Example: unique = one of a kind

bi- / di-

Means two. Example: bicycle = two wheels

tri-

Means three. Example: triangle = three angles

poly-

Means many. Example: polygon = many sides

omni-

Means all. Example: omniscient = all-knowing

semi- / hemi-

Means half. Example: semicircle = half a circle

hyper-

Means over or too much. Example: hyperactive = overly active

hypo-

Means under or below normal. Example: hypothermia = body temperature too low

neo-

Means new. Example: neonatal = newborn

pseudo-

Means false. Example: pseudonym = false name

auto-

Means self. Example: autobiography = story of one’s own life

bio-

Means life. Example: biology = study of life

chrono-

Means time. Example: chronology = order of events in time

geo-

Means earth. Example: geography = study of the earth

graph- / gram-

Means write or draw. Example: autograph = written by oneself

log- / logue-

Means word, study, or speech. Example: dialogue = conversation

meter- / metr-

Means measure. Example: thermometer = measures heat

morph-

Means form or shape. Example: metamorphosis = change of form

path-

Means feeling or disease. Example: sympathy = shared feeling

phil-

Means love. Example: philosophy = love of wisdom

phon-

Means sound. Example: telephone = sound from far away

photo-

Means light. Example: photograph = picture made with light

scop- / spect-

Means look or see. Example: microscope = look at small things

therm-

Means heat. Example: thermal = related to heat

verb-

Means word. Example: verbal = using words

vid- / vis-

Means see. Example: vision = ability to see

voc- / vok-

Means call or voice. Example: vocal = related to the voice

-able / -ible

Means capable of or worthy of. Example: readable = can be read

-ance / -ence

Means state or quality. Example: importance = quality of being important

-ate

Means to make or to act. Example: activate = to make active

-fy / -ify

Means to make. Example: simplify = to make simple

-ism

Means a belief or practice. Example: capitalism = economic system based on private ownership

-ist

Means a person who practices something. Example: biologist = person who studies life

-ity / -ty

Means state or quality. Example: reality = state of being real

-ment

Means result, action, or state. Example: achievement = result of achieving

-ology / -logy

Means study of. Example: biology = study of life

-ous / -ious

Means full of or having. Example: dangerous = full of danger

-tion / -sion

Means act, state, or result. Example: action = the act of doing