Prefixes Flashcards
Common prefixes and meanings to help increase vocabulary for the Word Knowledge section of the ASVAB test
a, an
not, without
Examples:
agnostic (n): one who believes that it cannot be known whether or not God exists; (adj) claiming no knowledge
amoral (adj): not related to morality; lacking regard for morality
anomaly (n): an irregularity
anonymous (adj): lacking a named author; having an unknown author
apathy (n): lack of feeling, interest, or emotional investment
atheist (n): one who does not believe in God
atypical (adj): not typical
ab
away from, apart from, down
Examples:
abduct (v): to take away by force
abhor (v): to hate; to detest
abject (adj): cast down; degraded
abnormal (adj): not normal; not conforming to a standard
abolish (v): to do away with, ban, or make void
abstract (v): to draw or pull away, remove; (adj) theoretical; related to ideas rather than to specific instances or objects
ad
toward, near (Sometimes the “d” is dropped and the first letter to which “a” is prefixed is doubled.)
Examples:
adapt (v): to adjust in response to new circumstances
addict (v): to cause (someone) to become dependent on a substance or activity; (n) a person who is dependent on a substance or activity
address (n): a speech; (v) to give a speech or direct a statement to
adhere (v): to stick fast; to cleave; to cling
adjacent (adj) next to, close to, or connected to
adjoin (v): to be next to, close to, or connected to
admire (v): to look up to; to look at with approval or pleasure
advocate (v): to plead for; to argue in favor of
attract (v): to draw by physical force or by an appeal to emotions or senses
ambi, amphi
both, on both sides
Examples:
ambidextrous (adj): able to use both hands equally well
ambiguous (adj): open to various interpretations
amphibian (n): an animal that lives part of its life in water and part of its life on land; a person with a twofold nature; (adj) having the traits of an amphibian
ant, ante
before
Examples:
antebellum (adj): before the war (especially the American Civil War)
antecedent (adj): existing, being, or going before
antedate (v): to precede in time
anterior (adj): placed before
anti
against
Examples:
antidote (n): a remedy intended to counteract a poison
antifreeze (n): a chemical that lowers the freezing point of a liquid such as water
antiseptic (adj): free from germs; particularly clean or neat
antithetical (adj): opposed to, contrary to
bi, bin
two
Examples:
biennial (adj): happening every two years
bilateral (adj): related to both sides
bilingual (adj): able to speak one’s native language and another with equal facility
binocular (adj): involving two eyes
bipartisan (adj): representing two parties
combination (n): the joining of two or more things into a whole
cent
hundred
Examples:
centimeter (n): one hundredth of a meter
centipede (n): a creature with many legs
century (n): one hundred years
percent (adj): out of every hundred
circu, circum
around
Examples:
circuit (n): a path or journey around an area; a path traveled by electrical current
circuitous (adj): roundabout, indirect
circumference (n): the outer boundary of a circular area
circumstances (n): the state of affairs that exist around a particular time or person; the factors that influence a person or situation
co, col, com, con
together, completely
Examples:
coerce (v): to force (another to do an action) by using fear, authority, or violence
collaborate (v): to work with another; to cooperate
collide (v): (used of two or more objects or persons) to crash together; to make contact forcefully or violently
commensurate (adj): suitable in measure, proportionate
compatible (adj): able to exist together with someone or something else; capable of harmonious coexistence
conciliate (v): to placate; to win over
connect (v): to bind or fasten together
contra, contro, counter
against
Examples:
contradict (v): to oppose, to speak against
contrary (adj): opposed to; opposite
controversy (n): a prolonged debate or disagreement about a topic
counterfeit (adj): fake; (n) a false imitation
encounter (v): a meeting, often with an opponent
de
away, off, down, reversal
Examples:
decipher (v): to interpret; to decode; to discern a hidden meaning
defame (v): to slander; to publicly speak ill of
delineate (v): to draw the outlines of; to sketch; to describe
descend (v): to move from a higher to a lower place
deca
ten
Examples:
decade (n): ten years
decathlon (n): a sports competition composed of ten events
di, dia
in two, across, through
Examples:
diagnose (v): to determine the nature of (a sickness or problem) b examining symptoms
dialogue (n): conversation between two or more persons
diameter (n): a line going through a circle, dividing it in two
dichotomy (n): division into two parts, kinds, etc.
di, dis
away from, reversal, not
Examples:
diffuse (v); to pour out and spread, as in a fluid; (adj) spread out
dilate (v): to widen; to expand
disperse (v): to spread over a wide area; to drive away in various directions
disseminate (v): to scatter or spread widely; to promulgate
dissuade (v): to persuade (someone) against (a course of action); to deter; to advise against
dys
faulty, abnormal
Examples:
dysfunctional (adj): poorly functioning
dyslexia (n): an impairment of reading ability due to a neurological problem
e, ex
out of, from, former
Examples:
evade (v): to escape from; to avoid
exclude (v): to shut out; to leave out
exonerate (v): to free or declare free from blame
expire (v): to breathe one’s last; to die; to reach the end of viability
em, en
inside, into
Examples:
embrace (v): to clasp in the arms; to include or contain
enclose (v): to close in on all sides
extra
outside, beyond
Examples:
extract (v): to take out; to obtain against a person’s will
extradite (v): to send (a person accused of a crime) to another state or nation for trial or punishment
extraordinary (adj): beyond the ordinary; unusual
extrasensory (adj): outside the senses; coming from or pertaining to knowledge that cannot be gained through normal sense perception
fore
before
Examples:
foreshadow (v): to warn of or indicate (a future event)
foresight (n): the act of foreseeing; care for the future; prudence
forestall (v): to prevent by advance action
hemi
half
Examples:
hemisphere (n): half a sphere; half of the Earth
hemiplegia (n): paralysis of the arm, leg, and trunk on one side of the body
hetero
different, other
Examples:
heterogeneous (adj): make up of different kinds
heterosexual (adj): pertaining to different sexes; having a sexual orientation toward members of the opposite sex
homeo, homo
same, similar
Examples:
homogeneous (adj): having a uniform nature or substance
homonym (n): one of two or more words spelled and pronounced alike but different in meaning
homosexual (adj): pertaining to the same sex; having a sexual orientation toward members of the same sex
hyper
over, above, more than, excessive
Examples:
hyperactive (adj): excessively active
hyperbole (n): extreme exaggeration used to create an effect
hypo
under, beneath, less than
Examples:
hypochondriac (n): one who imagines physical ailments; one who is overly preoccupied with physical health
hypocritical (adj): pretending to have virtues or qualities one does not have
hypothesis (n): assumption subject to proof
in, im
not, without
Examples:
immoral (adj): not moral
impartial (adj): unbiased; fair
inactive (adj): not active
indolence (adj): a tendency to avoid work or exertion: laziness
innocuous (adj): harmless, inoffensive
in, im
inside, into
Examples:
implicit (adj): not stated; inherent
incarnate (adj): having a body or physical form
indigenous (adj): native to a place
influx (n): the pouring or flowing of one thing into another
intrinsic (adj): natural; innate
inter
between, among
Examples:
interim (n): time period between one even and another; (adj) not permanent
interloper (n): one who intrudes in the domain of others
intermittent (adj): happening on and off; not constant
intersperse (v): to scatter; to put things among other things
interstate (adj): involving two or more states
intra
inside, within
Examples:
intramural (adj): within a school; inside a city
intrastate (adj): within a state
intravenous (adj): inside the veins
macro
great, large
Examples:
macroscopic (adj): large enough to be seen without magnification
macroeconomics (n): study of the economy on a large scale
mal, male
bad, evil, wrong
Examples:
maladroit (adj): clumsy, tactless
malady (n): an illness
malediction (n): a curse
malfunction (n): the act of not working correctly; (v) to work incorrectly; to break
malicious (adj): intended to hurt someone
malign (v): to tell lies with the intent of hurting someone’s reputation; to slander
med, medi
middle
Examples:
immediate (adj): nearest; having nothing in between
intermediate (adj): between the beginning and end
mediate (v): to serve as a go-between; to try to settle an argument
medieval (adj): related to the Middle Ages
mediocre (adj): of only so-so quality
medium (n): size between small and large; a substance or agency that things travel through (as, for example, light travels through air, and news is conveyed by television and newspapers)
mega, megalo
very large
Examples:
megalith (n): a very big stone
megalomaniac (n): a mental condition involving delusions of greatness; an obsession with achieving great things
megalopolis (n): a very large city
megaphone (n): a device for magnifying the sound of one’s voice
megaton (n): explosive power equal to 1 million tons of dynamite
micro
very small
Examples:
microbe (n): a very small organism
microcosm (n): a small system that reflects a larger whole
microorganism (n): a very small organism
microscope (n): a device that magnifies very small things for viewing
min, mini
small
Examples:
diminish (v): to lessen
diminution (n): reduction; the act of reducing
miniature (n) a copy or model that represents something in greatly reduced size
minute (n): one-sixtieth of an hour
minute (adj): very small
minutiae (n): small or trivial details
mis
bad, wrong, hateful
Examples:
misadventure (n): bad luck; an unlucky accident
misanthrope (n): one who hates people or humanity
misapply (v): to use something incorrectly
mischance (n): bad luck; an unlucky accident
mischief (n): naughty or annoying behavior
misconstrue (v): to understand something incorrectly
misfit (n): somebody or something that doesn’t fit in
mon, mono
one, single
Examples:
monarchy (n): rule by a single person
monk (n): a man in a religious order living apart from society
monogram (n): a design made up of letters combined into one shape
monograph (n): a scholarly paper on one topic
monologue (n): a speech or other dramatic composition recited by one person
monomania (n): an obsession with a single subject
monotonous (adj): boring; spoken using only one tone
mult
many
Examples:
multiple (adj): many, having many parts; a number containing some quantity of a smaller number without remainder
multiplex (adj): having more than one part; (n) a building with many separate units
multiply (v): to increase; to become many
multitudinous (adj): very many; containing very many; having very many forms
non
not
Examples:
nonconformist (n): one who does not conform to a church or other societal institution
nonentity (n): something that doesn’t exist; something that is unimportant
nonpartisan (adj): not affiliated with a political party
nov, neo, nou
new
Examples:
innovate (v): to develop a new way of doing something
neologism (n): a newly invented word or phrase
neophyte (n): a beginner; a new convert; a new worker
novice (n): a person new to any field or activity
renovate (v): to repair something so it is like new or does not show as much wear and tear
oct
eight
Examples:
octagon (n): a shape with eight sides
octogenarian (n): a person whose age is 80 - 89
omni
all
Examples:
omnibus (n): an anthology of the works of one author or of writings on related subjects
omnipotent (adj): all powerful
omnipresent (adj): being everywhere at one time
omniscient (adj): knowing everything
pan, pant
all, everyone
Examples:
pandemic (adj): widespread
panoply (n): an impressive or vast group or display
panorama (n): a view or scene that extends a long way
pantheon (n): the group made up of all the gods of a particular culture; a building that honors dead heroes
para
next to, beside
Examples:
parable (n): a story that teaches a lesson through allegory
paragon (n): an example of excellence to be emulated
parallel (adj): being side by side and the same distance apart at all points; having similar paths or structures
paranoid (adj): suffering from a baseless distrust of others
parasite (n): a living thing that draws its nutrients from another on which it lives; a person who lives off another without providing anything in return
parody (v): to satirize through imitation; (n) an imitative satire
pent
five
Examples:
pentagon (n): a five-sided shape
pentathlon (n): a sports competition with five events
peri
around
Examples:
perimeter (n): the distance around a shape; a border around a shape
peripatetic (adj): not stationary, moving about
periscope (n): an optical instrument used to view objects that otherwise couldn’t be seen
poly
many
Examples:
polyandry (n): the practice of having multiple husbands
polygamy (n): the practice of having multiple spouses, often wives
polyglot (n): someone who speaks many languages
polygon (n): a figure with many sides
polytheism (n): belief in many gods
post
behind, after
Examples: post facto (adv): after the fact
posterior (adj): situated at the rear
posthumous (adj): after death
pre
before, in front
Examples:
precedent (n): an act that serves as an example for subsequent situations
precept (n): a rule to govern behavior
precocious (adj): unusually advanced at a young age
premonition (n): a feeling or intuition that something is going to happen before it does
pro
in front, before, much, for
Examples:
proceed (v): to go forward
profuse (adj): occurring in large amounts; abounding; overly giving
prolific (adj): highly fruitful
proselytize (v): to convert, recruit, or attempt to convert
provident (adj): possessing foresight
prot, proto
first
Examples:
protagonist (n): the main character in a play or story
protocol (n): diplomatic etiquette; a system of proper conduct; the original record of a treaty or other negotiation
prototype (n): the first version of an invention, on which later models are based
pseud, pseudo
false
Examples:
pseudonym (n): a false name; a pen name
pseudopod (n): part of a single-celled organism that can be stuck out (like a foot) and used to move around
pseudoscience (n): false science; something believed to be based on the scientific method but actually is not
quad, quar, quat
four
Examples:
quadrant (n): a quarter of a circle; a 90-degree arc
quadruple (adj): four times as many
quadruplets (n): four children born in one birth
quart (n): one-fourth of a gallon
quin, quint
five
Examples:
quintile (n): one-fifth
quintuple (adj): five times as many
re
back, again
Examples:
recline (v): to lean back; to lie down
regain (v) to gain again; to take back
remain (v): to stay behind; to be left; to continue to be
reorganize (v): to organize again
request (v): to ask (originally: to seek again)
retro
backward
Examples:
retroactive (adj): extending to things that happened in the past
retrofit (v): to instill newer parts into an older device or structure
retrograde (adj): moving backward; appearing to move backward
retrospective (adj): looking back at the past; (n) a review of past events
se
apart, away
Examples:
secede (v): to withdraw formally from an association
sedition (n): provocation of rebellion against a government
seduce (v): to lead astray
segregate (v): to separate a larger group into two or more groups; to set an individual or subgroup apart from the larger group
select (v): to choose one thing over another
separate (v): to keep apart; to divide
sequester (v): to isolate or set apart from a larger group
semi
half
Examples:
semicircle (n): half a circle
semiconscious (adj): only partly conscious; half awake
sept
seven
Examples:
septuplet (n): one of seven children born together
septennial (adj): occurring every seven years
sex, hex
six
Examples:
sextet (n): a band with six musicians
hexagon (n): a shape with six sides
sub, sup
below, under
Examples:
subliminal (adj): existing beneath consciousness
submissive (adj): obedient; not dominant
subsidiary (adj): supplemental; secondary
subterfuge (n): a trick or stratagem used to deceive, hide something, or avoid punishment
subtle (adj): not direct; difficult to understand
suppose (v): to put down as a hypothesis; to use as the underlying basis of an argument; to assume
super, sur
over, above
Examples:
superfluous (adj): extra; more than necessary
superlative (n): the highest or best of its kind
supersede (v): to replace in power or preference by another
surmount (v): to overcome an obstacle or prevail over a problem
surpass (v): to exceed in amount or degree
surveillance (n): a watch kept over someone or something
sym, syn
the same, together
Examples:
symbiosis (n): the act of living together in a mutually beneficial relationship
symmetry (n): balanced proportions; having opposite parts that mirror one another
sympathy (n): the attempt to understand the feelings of others
symposium (n): a meeting at which ideas are discussed; originally: a party at which people drink together
synonym (n): a word that means the same thing as another
synthesis (n): the act of combining things to create a new whole
trans
across, beyond
Examples:
transaction (n): an exchange, especially a business deal involving buying and selling
transcendent (adj): going beyond ordinary limits
transgress (v): to disobey or violate a law; to sin
transition (n): a change from one way of being to another
transparent (adj): easy to see through; easy to perceive
un
not
Examples:
unseen (adj): not seen
unusual (adj): not usual; exceptional; strange
uni, un
one
Examples:
reunion (n): a meeting that brings people back together
unanimous (adj): in complete agreement
unicorn (n): a mythical animal with a single horn
uniform (adj): of one kind; consistent
universe (n): all things considered as one whole
