Common Prefixes and Their Meanings

Front

anti-

Back

against (e.g., antibiotic, anticlimax)

Front

auto-

Back

self (e.g., autograph, autobiography)

Front

bi-

Back

two (e.g., bicycle, binocular)

Front

de-

Back

opposite (e.g., devalue, dehumidify)

Front

dis-

Back

not, opposite of (e.g., detach, deploy)

Front

en-, em-

Back

cause to (e.g., empower, entangle)

Front

fore-

Back

before, front of (e.g., forecast, foresee)

Front

in-, im-, il-, ir-

Back

not (e.g., impossible, innocent)

Front

inter-

Back

between, among (e.g., international, interject)

Front

micro-

Back

small (e.g., microscope, microwave)