Words have different word parts that can be added to them. These are known as affixes, and they change the meaning of a word.
These are some common prefixes and suffixes and some words that use them.
| Prefix |
Meaning |
Example Word |
| Anti- |
against |
anticlimax (against the climax) |
| Com- |
with, together |
compact (joined or packed together) |
| De- |
away, remove |
deforest (remove trees or forest) |
| Dis- |
the opposite of |
disallow (not allow) |
| En- |
make |
enforce (to put force) |
| Ex- |
past |
ex-boss (former boss) |
| In- |
not |
inactive( not active) |
| Mis- |
wrong, bad |
mispronounce (say wrongly) |
| Non- |
no or not |
nonmetal (not metal) |
| Post- |
after |
postdate (after the date) |
| Pre- |
before |
pretest (a test before a test) |
| Un- |
no or not |
unafraid (not afraid) |
| Under- |
below, lacking |
underage (lacking the required age) |
| Re- |
again |
regift (gift again) |
| Suffix |
Meaning |
Example Word |
| -able |
causing |
flammable (causing flames) |
| -ed |
past tense |
dressed (dress in the past) |
| -en |
make |
strengthen (make stronger) |
| -er |
comparative; a person who does something |
bolder (more bold); hatter (one who makes hats) |
| -est |
adjective |
strongest (the most strong) |
| -less |
lacking |
heartless (unkind) |
| -ly |
in what way |
safely (in a safe way) |
| -ist |
one who does something |
recordist (one who records) |
| -ful |
full of |
truthful (full of truth) |
| -ment |
state or way of being |
agreement (the state of agreeing) |
| -ness |
the state or quality of |
freshness (in the state of being fresh) |
| -ous |
full of |
joyous (full of joy) |
| -y |
having the quality of |
lumpy (covered with lumps) |
4th Grade Reading - Roots and Affixes Lesson