What Are Affixes?

What Are Affixes? (with Examples)

An affix is added to the root of a word to change its meaning. An affix added to the front of a word is known as a prefix. One added to added to the back is known as a suffix. Sometimes, prefixes are hyphenated. Read more about hyphens in prefixes. Examples of Affixes Here are some examples of affixes: incapable (The affix is the prefix in.) ex-President (The affix is the prefix ex-.) laughing (The affix is the suffix ing.) Most Common Prefixes. The four most common prefixes are: dis-, in-, re-, and un-. These account for over 95% of prefixed words. Most Common Suffixes. The four most common suffixes are: -ed, -ing, -ly, and -es. These account for over 95% of suffixed words. A List of Common Prefixes Here is a list of common prefixes with some examples: Prefix Meaning Example a-, an- without amoral, atypical ante- before antecedent, antenatal anti- against anti-establishment auto- self autopilot circum- around circumvent co- with co-conspirator, co-pilot com-, con- with companion, contact contra- against contradiction de- off delist, devalue dis- not disappear en- put into enclose, envelop ex- out of, former extract, ex-governor extra- beyond, more than extracurricular hetero- different heterosexual homo- same homonym, homophone hyper- over, more hyperactive il-, im-, in-, ir- not, without illegal, impractical, inconsiderate, irresponsible in- into insert inter- between internet, intersection, intra- between intranet, intravenous macro- large macronutrients micro- small microscope mono- one monocle non- not, without nonentity, nonstarter, omni- all, every omnipresent, omniscient post- after post-mortem pre-, pro- before, forward precede, project sub- under submarine, substandard syn- same time synchronize super- above supervisor, superhuman trans- across transmit tri- three tripod, triceratops un- not undone, unfinished, uni- one unicorn, unilaterally A List of Common Suffixes Here is a list of common suffixes with some examples: Suffix Meaning Example -able, -ible can be done comfortable, passable -al, -ial having the characteristics of personal -ed past-tense verbs (weak verbs) danced, jumped -en made of golden, wooden -er comparative tidier, nicer -er, -or one who actor, narrator, worker -est superlative nicest, greatest -ful full or full of cupful, careful -ic having characteristics of linguistic, sarcastic -ing verb form (present participle and gerund) dancing, singing -ion, -tion, -ation, ition act or process attraction, attrition -ity, -ty state of humility, infinity -ive, -ative, itive adjective form of a noun expensive, plaintive -less without topless, fearless -ly adverb ending nicely, quickly -ment action or process enjoyment, entrenchment -ness state of, condition of eagerness, kindness -ous, -eous, -ious possessing the qualities of erroneous, joyous -s, -es plural tables, foxes -y characterized by fatty, happy, jumpy Top of Form Bottom of Form