Popular Prefix and Suffix Words in English with Examples

What is a Prefix and a Suffix?

If you have knowledge of various prefix and suffix words, then it becomes easy for you to ace the various competitions. However, to do that firstly, you need to understand the meaning and purpose of these terms.

Prefix: The term prefix is used for a set of letters that, when added to a root word, can modify its meaning. Further, prefix words are those that are added to the beginning of the term. The prefixes can be used to show repetition, opinion, or make a word negative.

Examples- sub + merge = submerge

inter + related = interrelated

Suffix: These also belong to the group of letters that, when added to a root word, can transform its meaning. However, unlike prefixes, these are added at the end of the term. Moreover, suffixes only change the class of the word. It means that either, they can change the parts of speech or they can alter it grammatically. For instance, change the verbs into adjectives, etc.

Examples- govern + ment = government

Danger + ous = dangerous

Next, take a look at some of the rules that you need to follow when adding prefix and suffix words to root terms.

Spelling Rules to Be Followed When Adding a Prefix or a Suffix

When the meaning of a term is altered in English, it usually involves a change in spelling too. But, to alter the spellings, certain rules need to be followed. The same is true for prefix and suffix words as well. Hence, this segment aims to make you aware of the norms for adding prefixes and suffixes to the root words.

Prefix:

• While writing the base word with prefix words, no changes are made to the word. For ex, un + popular = unpopular
• For some prefixes, such as ex or non, a hyphen is added between the word and the prefix. For ex, non + violence = non-violence

Suffix:

• When a suffix is joined to a word, its spelling can change.
• The terms that end with a consonant (except y) do not change when suffix words are added to them, such as truth + ful = truthful.
• If a word ends in ‘y’, then you need to replace it with an ‘i’ before joining the suffix, like try + al = trial. The exceptions to this rule are monosyllable terms without vowels, such as sly + ly = slyly.
• In the case of -ty suffix words, there are some specific rules. When it is added to a word ending with an ‘e’, the letter is changed to ‘i’, for ex, sensitive + ty = sensitivity. Similarly, if the word already has the suffix ‘al’ then, also the “ty” is changed to “ity”. For example, functional + ty = functionality.
• When adding the suffix words able and age to mono or disyllabic words ending in ‘e’ the letter ‘e’ is removed from the root word, such as adore + able = adorable. There are also some exceptions to this rule, like recharge + able = rechargeable.
• When the suffix words er and est are added to the adjectives (root words) you will get the comparative and superlative degree of comparison.

These are some of the rules for making new terms using suffix words and prefixes.

There are over more than 100 prefix words, some of which are discussed in this section.

Prefix Words List

The English language comprises a lot of different types of prefixes that you can use to get new terms. However, to aid you, here is a prefix words list with some of the more common prefixes.

In- Prefix Words

Here are some of the in prefix words for you to explore:

• Intolerant
• Indiscipline
• Infinite
• Illogical
• Immorally
• Irrelevance
• Indoor
• Infant
• Informal
• Inform

Dis- Prefix Words

The following are dis prefix words examples:

• Disobey
• Disprove
• Dislike
• Dishonest
• Disagree
• Discomfort
• Disown
• Disability
• Displease
• Disconnect

Un- Prefix Words

Below are un prefix words for you to implore:

• Unable
• Unafraid
• Unappealing
• Unaware
• Uncomfortable
• Uncommon
• Unconvinced
• Undo
• Untie
• Uniform

Il- Prefix Words

The following il prefix words will help you know prefixes better:

• Illogical
• Illegible
• Illegal
• Illegitimate
• Illiberal
• Illicit
• Illimitable
• Illiquid
• Illustrate
• Illumination

Anti- Prefix Words

The anti prefix words are as follows:

• Antifreeze
• Antidote
• Antibiotic
• Antisocial
• Antonym
• Antibacterial
• Anti-infective
• Antiviral
• Antacid
• Antithesis

Miss- Prefix Words

Some of the miss prefix words for you are the following:

• Misshaped
• Misspell
• Mistrust
• Miserable
• Misread
• Mismatch
• Misdeeds
• Mismanage
• Miscues
• Misjudge

Now, let’s take a look at the suffix words list, that will help you learn how you can change the different words by adding a few letters to them.

Suffix Words List

Exploring the suffixes without examples will be like half-cooked food. Hence, the following are some of the suffix words list that will come in handy when you are taking verbal ability exams:

-ness Suffix Words

The new terms that you can get by adding ness suffix words are as follows:

• Readiness
• Sharpness
• Happiness
• Loneliness
• Eagerness
• Kindness
• Deafness
• Illness
• Witness
• Fitness

-less Suffix Words

The examples for less suffix words are the following:

• Careless
• Fearless
• Endless
• Limitless
• Senseless
• Flawless
• Priceless
• Peerless
• Ageless
• Powerless

-ly Suffix Words

The ly suffix words for you to explore are given below:

• Eventually
• Finally
• Foolishly
• Frequently
• Generally
• Gladly
• Gracefully
• Greatly
• Happily
• Highly
• Hungrily

-ful Suffix Words

The various ful suffix words are as follows:

• Adviceful
• Affrightful
• Aidful
• Armful
• Wonderful
• Beautiful
• Armsful
• Artful
• Awful
• Bagful

-ment Suffix Words

The examples of ment suffix words for you include the following:

• Government
• Development
• Management
• Moment
• Department
• Movement
• Agreement
• Environment
• Treatment
• Investment

-ous Suffix Words

Below are some of the ous suffix words examples for you:

• Famous
• Poisonous
• Dangerous
• Mountainous
• Adventurous
• Hazardous
• Nervous
• Spacious
• Mysterious
• Prosperous

Now time to find out about the examples where the root term combines with both prefix words and suffix words.

List of Words with a Prefix and a Suffix (Table)

To make the words more expressive, effective, and diverse, sometimes both prefix and suffix words are added to them. Further, these will help to expand your understanding of the various terms in the English language. Thus, the following is a list of some of the most commonly used words that contain both a suffix and a prefix.

Now that you are familiar with the various examples of prefix and suffix words, let’s take a test to check how well you have understood them.

Practice Sheet

The following is a worksheet that will help you understand the use of suffix and prefix words in the English language:

Use the correct form of the word in bracket along with a suitable prefix or suffix:

1. I couldn't find any __________________ in his theory. (weak)
2. This word is very difficult to spell, and even worse, it's __________________. (pronounce)
3. I think that you should __________________. It may not be the best thing to do. (consider)
4. His __________________ has been expected for the last half an hour. (arrive)
5. The road was too narrow, so they had to __________________ it. (wide)
6. Failing her driving test was a great __________________ to her. (appoint)
7. The rate of __________________ in Brazil has been rising steadily. (employ)
8. He was acting in a very __________________ way. (child)
9. The newspaper led a campaign against social __________________. (justice)
10. You should never do business with __________________ people. (honest)

Answers:

1. Weakness
2. Mispronounced
3. Reconsider
4. Arrival
5. Widen
6. Disappointment
7. Employment
8. Childish
9. Injustice
10. Dishonest

Key Takeaways

On the whole, these are the popular prefix and suffix words that will help you enhance your vocabulary. These make up a very important aspect of English grammar and can help you make new words out of the ones you are already familiar with. So, do not forget that prefix words are always at the start of the term, and the end of the root term is held firmly by the suffix words that come at last.

Also read:

• Pronouns in English
• Prepositions

FAQ’s

What is an example of a prefix and suffix together?

If you combine suffix and prefix words together, then they are collectively referred to as affixes. In the English language, you will come across various examples of words that contain both a prefix and a suffix, some of these examples are as follows:

• Un+ faith+ ful = unfaithful
• Im+ passion+ nate = impassionate
• En+ trust+ ed = entrusted
• Im+ moral+ ly = immorally
• Un+ conscious+ ness = unconsciousness

What is a suffix name example?

Sometimes suffix words are also used with the name of the person. This usually happens when two people in the same family share the same name. Then to distinguish them, suffixes such as Jr. (Junior) or Sr. (Senior) are added after their names. For example, James Brown, Sr.

What are the two basic types of suffixes?

The two different suffix types include derivational and inflectional. The derivational suffix words change the parts of speech, whereas the inflectional suffixes are related to grammar.

Where is the prefix found?

The prefix words are added at the beginning of a word to modify its meaning. Hence, these are words that are always located before the root word.

Is a prefix a title?

In some of the cases, prefix words can also be used as the title that comes before a person’s name. For instance, a few of the common prefix titles include Dr. (Doctor), Mr. (Mister) and Mrs. (Mistress).