prefix

1 of 3

verb

pre·​fix

prefixed; prefixing; prefixes

transitive verb

1

(ˌ)prē-ˈfiks  : to fix or appoint beforehand

2

ˈprē-ˌfiks 

prē-ˈfiks

[partly from prefix entry 2] : to place in front

especially : to add as a prefix

prefix a syllable to a word

prefix

2 of 3

noun

pre·​fix ˈprē-ˌfiks 

1

: an affix attached to the beginning of a word, base, or phrase and serving to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form compare suffix

2

: a title used before a person's name

prefixal

ˈprē-ˌfik-səl 

prē-ˈfik-

adjective

prefix

3 of 3

adjective

pre·​fix ˈprē-ˌfiks 

: characterized by placement of an operator before its operand or before its two operands if it is a binary operator compare infix, postfix

Did you know?

What are prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms?

Prefixes and suffixes are both kinds of affixes. That is, they are word parts that attach to the beginning or end of a word or word base (a word stripped down to its simplest form) to produce a related word or an inflectional form of a word. Examples are in- in informal and both re- and -ing in reporting.

A third kind of affix is called an infix. Infixes are inserted into a word or word base. English uses very few infixes, but a couple examples are the plural-making s in words like cupsful and passersby, and various swear words, like damn in informal constructions like guaran-damn-tee.

A combining form is a form of a word that only appears as part of another word. There are a number of kinds of combining forms, each classified by what kind of word results when the form is used. For example, -wise in clockwise is an adverb combining form; -like in birdlike is an adjective combining form; -graph in photograph is a noun combining form; and -lyze in electrolyze is a verb combining form.

Combining forms are similar to affixes but can have a bit more lexical substance to them. Unlike affixes, combining forms are substantial enough to form a word simply by connecting to an affix, such as when the combining form cephal- joins with the suffix -ic to form cephalic. A combining form can also differ from an affix in its being derived from an independent word. For example, para- is a combining form in the word paratrooper because in that word it represents the word parachute. Para- is a prefix, however, in the words paranormal and paramedic. A combining form can also be distinguished historically from an affix by the fact that it is borrowed from another language in which it is descriptively a word or a combining form, such as the French mal giving English the mal- in malfunction.

Examples of prefix in a Sentence

Verb

Prefix “un” to “do” to form the word “undo.”

The cost of the item was prefixed by a dollar sign.

Noun

Add the prefix “re-” to form the words “retell” and “recall.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Each branch and tip is made from premium PVC, and 300 LED warm lights are prefixed to the body of the tree for hassle-free assembly. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2023

There is a tendency to prefix anything dramatic, unusual or super with…well, the prefix ‘super,’ which is partly why the Moon is called super twice more this year. —Ian Vorster, Discover Magazine, 10 Aug. 2014

Noun

Other prefixes include: P: Periodic (or short-period) comet with solar orbit of less than 200 years. —Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2024

Advertisement The conference handed out call-letter prefixes — C for Canada, X for Mexico, F for France, and so on. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Middle French prefixer, from Latin praefixus

Noun

New Latin praefixum, from Latin, neuter of praefixus, past participle of praefigere to fasten before, from prae- + figere to fasten — more at fix

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1971, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

prefix

1 of 2 verb

pre·​fix ˈprē-ˌfiks 

prē-ˈfiks

: to place in front

especially : to add as a prefix

prefix a syllable to a word

prefix

2 of 2 noun

pre·​fix ˈprē-ˌfiks 

: a letter or group of letters that comes at the beginning of a word and has a meaning of its own