Prefixes and Suffixes

Concept: Prefix Used to Write Opposite Words

Definition

• Prefix means a group of letters that is added at the beginning of a word to form a new word.
• Prefixes are also used to create opposite words or antonyms. Few prefixes are as follows: mis-, in-, dis-, ir- , im- , il-, un-

Examples:

1. Mis + understand= Misunderstand
2. In + correct= incorrect
3. Dis +appear= disappear

Meaning of Prefixes :

Prefixes are used to make negative words like untidy, discomfort Let’s take a look at the meaning of a few prefixes.

1. The prefix un - means ‘not’.

Example:

lock – unlock

2. The prefix dis- means ‘not or ‘the opposite of’.

Example:

obey – disobey

3. The prefix mis- means ‘a mistake’.

Example:

Use – Misuse

Uses of Prefixes:

1. Prefixes are often used to give adjectives a negative meaning. Look at the examples given below with the meaning written in the brackets.

Examples:

1. kind (good-natured)) – unkind (rude to others)
2. decent (respectable) – indecent (not appropriate)
2. Prefixes are used to create opposites of verbs prefixes like in- and dis- can be seen

Examples:

1. appear – dis appear
2. agree – dis agree
3. approve -dis approve
4. believe - dis believe
5. connect-dis connect
6. like - dis like

Examples of common opposite words with prefix

Use – Misuse Advantage – Disadvantage



1. Opposite words with the prefix ‘Dis’:



Main Word	Word with Prefix
Agree	Disagree
Comfort	Discomfort
Honest	Dishonest
Appear	Disappear
Honour	Dishonour
Like	Dislike

Main Word	Word with Prefix
Ability	Disability
Appoint	Disappoint
Belief	Disbelief
Honest	Dishonest
Connect	Disconnect
Order	Disorder
Satisfied	Dissatisfied



2. Opposite words with the prefix ‘Im’



Main Word	Word with Prefix
Patient	Impatient
Movable	Immovable
Moral	Immoral
Balance	Imbalance
Partial	Impartial

Main Word	Word with Prefix
Mortal	Immortal
Possible	Impossible
Pure	Impure
Polite	Impolite
Probable	Improbable
Mature	Immature

3. Opposite words with the prefix ‘in’



Main Word	Word with Prefix
Active	Inactive
Ability	Inability
Effective	Ineffective
Formal	Informal
Efficient	Inefficient
Attentive	Inattentive
Justice	Injustice
Complete	Incomplete

Main Word	Word with Prefix
Accurate	Inaccurate
Correct	Incorrect
Decent	Indecent
Direct	Indirect
Equality	Inequality
Attentive	Inattentive
Sufficient	Insufficient
Valid	Invalid
Sane	Insane

4. Opposite words with the prefix ‘Mis’



Main Word	Word with Prefix
Conduct	Misconduct
Interpret	Misinterpret
Lead	Mislead
Manage	Mismanage
Behave	Misbehave

Main Word	Word with Prefix
Understand	Misunderstand
Fortune	Misfortune
Chief	Mischief
Use	Misuse

5. Opposite words with the prefix ‘Un’



Main Word	Word with Prefix
Do	Undo
Known	Unknown
Usual	Unusual
Wise	Unwise
Pleasant	Unpleasant
Fortunate	Unfortunate
Common	Uncommon
Able	Unable
Avoidable	Unavoidable

Main Word	Word with Prefix
Authorized	Unauthorized
Kind	Unkind
Fit	Unfit
Conscious	Unconscious
Clear	Unclear
Necessary	Unnecessary
Foreseen	Unforeseen
Sure	Unsure
Educated	Uneducated

6. Opposite words with the prefix ‘il’:



Main Word	Word with Prefix
Logical	Illogical
Legal	Illegal
Legible	Illegible
Literate	Illiterate

7. Opposite words with the prefix ‘ir’:



Main Word	Word with Prefix
Rational	Irrational
Regular	Irregular
Relevant	Irrelevant
Reparable	Irreparable
Replaceable	Irreplaceable

Common Mistakes

1. The prefix in- does not have a negative meaning always. It often means ‘inside’ or ‘into’, for instance, internal, income, and insert.
2. The antonym of a word must be exactly the same part of the speech as that particular word.

Examples:

1. Adjective – Antonym – (good-bad)
2. Verb – Antonym – (hate - love)
3. Noun – Antonym – (strength-weakness)
3. Do not forget to use im- before a word that starts with ‘m’ or ‘p’, e.g., immature, impatient, improbable.
4. Similarly, ir- before a word that begins with ‘r’ and il- before a word that starts with ‘l’, for example, irreplaceable, illegal, illegible, illiterate, irreversible.



Exceptions:

1. Not all words starting with ‘dis’ are an antonym.

Example:

distinguish means ‘to differentiate’.

I am unable to distinguish between the two.

2. Not all words starting with ‘im’ are an antonym.

Example:

impart means to convey or pass on.

It is a teacher’s job to impart knowledge to students.