Meaning & use
prefix
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Meanings
nouncountable
A group of letters placed at the start of a word to change its meaning, such as 'un-' in 'undo'.
Grammar: Countable: the prefix 're-' means again.
Patterns
- the prefix 'un-'
- add a prefix to something
The prefix 'un-' makes the word 'happy' negative.
Adding the prefix 're-' to 'write' gives 'rewrite'.
English has many prefixes from Latin.
nouncountable
A title or letters placed before a name, such as Dr or Ms, or a code placed before a number.
Grammar: Countable: the area code is a prefix before the number.
Patterns
- a prefix to a number
Dial the prefix 0044 for calls to the UK.
The title 'Dr' is a prefix to her name.
verbtransitive
To put something at the beginning of a word, name, or number.
Grammar: Takes an object, often with with: prefix a word with 'un-'.
Patterns
- prefix something with something
- prefix something to something
Prefix the file name with the date.
You must prefix the number with the country code.
Word forms
| plural | prefixes |
|---|---|
| third person singular | prefixes |
| past tense | prefixed |
| past participle | prefixed |
| -ing form | prefixing |
Common combinations
- add a prefix
- Add a prefix to form the opposite.
- Latin prefix
- 'Anti-' is a Greek prefix.
- negative prefix
- 'Dis-' is a negative prefix.
- phone prefix
- Check the phone prefix for Spain.
Synonyms and how they differ
- affix
- Affix is the general term and includes suffixes and infixes as well as prefixes.
Opposites
Word family
- prefixation noun
- the adding of prefixes
- suffix noun
- a word part added at the end
Commonly confused: prefix or suffix?
prefix vs suffix
A suffix goes at the end of a word, while a prefix goes at the beginning.
Practice
In the word 'disagree', 'dis-' is a ___.
Choose one answer.
'Dis-' is added at the start, so it is a prefix. A suffix would come at the end.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “prefix”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.