prefix

1 antonyms and opposites of prefix, grouped by meaning.

Noun — A group of letters added to the front of a word to change its meaning, such as un- in unhappy or re- in rewrite.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A group of letters added to the front of a word to change its meaning, such as un- in unhappy or re- in rewrite.

“Adding the prefix "un-" turns "kind" into "unkind".”

Opposites

suffix

2. verb

To put something in front of something else, especially at the start of a word or text.

“Prefix each filename with the date so they sort correctly.”

preface precede

Antonyms

suffix

How to Use Prefix

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

prefix and suffix common prefixes country prefix prefix the filename

Neutral; standard in grammar teaching, forms and computing.

Etymology

From Latin praefigere "to fix in front", from prae- "before" + figere "to fasten".

Full origin of prefix →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a prefix and a suffix?

A prefix goes at the front of a word and a suffix goes at the end. "Un-" in "unhelpful" is a prefix; "-ful" is a suffix. Prefixes usually change meaning, while suffixes often change the word's part of speech as well.

What are the most common prefixes in English?

Un-, re-, in-/im-, dis-, en-, non-, over-, mis-, sub-, pre- and de- account for most prefixed words in everyday English. Learning what a handful of them mean lets you work out thousands of unfamiliar words.

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preface suffix precede

Nearby Words

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