Complete List of Prefixes

Companies often use prefixes in their domain name to create great sounding/looking brands.

Examples: Netflix, Autodesk, Uber, Unilever, UnderArmour

🔹 Negative / Opposite Prefixes

PrefixMeaningExamples
a-not, withoutamoral, atypical
an-not, without (before vowels)anarchy, anemia
anti-against, oppositeantiwar, antibiotic
contra-against, oppositecontradict, contraband
counter-opposite, opposingcounteract, counterattack
dis-not, opposite ofdisagree, disconnect
il-not (before ‘l’)illegal, illogical
im-not (before ‘m’ or ‘p’)impossible, impolite
in-notinactive, incapable
ir-not (before ‘r’)irregular, irresponsible
mal-bad, wrongmalfunction, malnourished
mis-wrongly, badlymisplace, misunderstand
non-notnonfiction, nonstop
un-not, opposite ofunhappy, undo

🔹 Number / Quantity Prefixes

PrefixMeaningExamples
bi-twobicycle, bilingual
cent-hundredcentury, centipede
deca- / dec-tendecade, decimal
demi-halfdemigod, demitasse
hemi-halfhemisphere, hemicycle
mono-onemonologue, monorail
multi-manymulticultural, multiverse
oct- / octa-eightoctagon, octopus
penta-fivepentagon, pentathlon
poly-manypolygon, polytheism
quad- / quart-fourquadrangle, quarter
semi-half, partlysemicircle, semiannual
tri-threetriangle, tricycle
uni-oneunicycle, uniform

🔹 Time / Order Prefixes

PrefixMeaningExamples
ante-beforeantecedent, antebellum
fore-beforeforesee, forewarn
post-afterpostwar, postgraduate
pre-beforepredict, prehistoric
pro-forward, beforeprogress, proactive
re-again, backreturn, rebuild
retro-backwardretroactive, retrograde

🔹 Degree / Size / Comparison Prefixes

PrefixMeaningExamples
arch-chief, mainarchenemy, archduke
hyper-over, excessivehyperactive, hypertension
hypo-under, belowhypodermic, hypothermia
macro-large, longmacroeconomics, macro lens
mega-large, greatmegabyte, megaphone
micro-smallmicroscope, microbe
mini-smallminiskirt, minivan
over-too muchovereat, overwork
sub-under, beneathsubway, submerge
super-above, beyondsuperstar, superhuman
sur-over, abovesurcharge, surpass
under-too little, beneathunderpaid, underdeveloped
ultra-beyond, extremeultraviolet, ultrafast

🔹 Direction / Location Prefixes

PrefixMeaningExamples
circum-aroundcircumference, circumvent
dia-through, acrossdialogue, diameter
en- / em-in, intoencode, empower
ex-out of, formerexport, ex-president
extra-outside, beyondextraordinary, extraterrestrial
in- / im-in, intoinsert, import
inter-between, amonginteract, international
intra-withinintranet, intravenous
intro-into, inwardintroduce, introspect
ob-toward, againstobstacle, obstruct
per-through, thoroughlyperceive, permeate
peri-aroundperimeter, periscope
trans-across, beyondtransport, translate

🔹 Judgment / Attitude Prefixes

PrefixMeaningExamples
bene-goodbeneficial, benevolent
eu-good, welleulogy, euphemism
pseudo-falsepseudonym, pseudoscience
pro-in favor ofpromote, pro-democracy

🔹 Other Common Prefixes

PrefixMeaningExamples
auto-selfautograph, automatic
co- / com- / con-with, togethercooperate, combine, connect
de-reverse, downdefrost, descend
e- / ex-out, fromeject, exit
iso-equalisometric, isotope
neo-newneologism, neonatal
pan-allpanorama, pandemic
para-beside, related toparallel, paranormal
syn- / sym-with, togethersynthesis, symphony
tele-distanttelephone, television