Prefix, Meaning, and example word

a-

not, without (e.g., apathy)

ab-

away, from (e.g., abnormal, abduct)

abs-

away, from (e.g., abstain)

ad-

to, toward (e.g., adjacent, adhere)

ambi-

both, around (e.g., ambidextrous, ambivalent)

an-

not, without (e.g., anonymous)

ante-

before (e.g., antecedent)

anti-

against (e.g., antisocial)

auto-

self (e.g., autobiography, automatic)

bi-

two, twice (e.g., biannual)

circum-

around (e.g., circumference)

co-

with, together (e.g., cooperate)

col-

with, together (e.g., collective)

com-

with, together (e.g., community)

con-

with, together (e.g., connect, confide, collaborate)

contra-

against (e.g., contradict)

de-

down, away, from, opposite (e.g., descend)

dem-

people, citizens (e.g., democracy)

di-

two, double (e.g., dichotomy)

dia-

through, across (e.g., diameter, dialysis)

dis-

not, apart, away (e.g., discomfort, disperse)

dys-

badly, ill (e.g., dysfunction)

e-

out of, from (e.g., emit, edict)

em-

in, into (e.g., embrace)

en-

in, into, do, or make (e.g., enable, envision)

epi-

on, above, around (e.g., epicenter, epidemic)

eu-

well, good (e.g., euphoric)

ex-

out of, from (e.g., exhale, extract)

extra-

beyond (e.g., extraordinary)

extro-

outside, outward (e.g., extrovert, extrospection)

for-

away, off, wrongly (e.g., forbid, forbear)

fore-

before, front (e.g., forewarn)

hetero-

different (e.g., heterogeneous)

homo-

same (e.g., homogeneous)

hydro-

water (e.g., hydrofoil)

hyper-

over, excessive (e.g., hyperactive)

hypo-

under, less (e.g., hypodermic)

il-

not, into (e.g., illegal, illegible)

im-

not, into (e.g., imperfect, impossible, implant)