In ASVAB For Dummies, I coach you through common prefixes so you can figure out what unfamiliar words mean. The strategy of using prefixes (along with word roots and suffixes) works really well for everyone – even if English isn’t your first language, you can pick apart words and use their prefixes to help you define them.
Super-Common Prefixes That Can Help You Figure Out What Words Mean
Check out these common prefixes, words you’ll see them in, and their meanings.
| Prefix | Examples | Meaning |
| a- or an- | agnostic, atheist, atypical | not or without |
| ad- | adjacent, advocate | near or toward |
| ambi- or amphi- | ambidextrous, amphitheater | both or on both sides |
| anti- | antibiotic, antifreeze, ANTIFA | against |
| bi- | bipartisan, bilingual, bisexual | two |
| cent- or centi- | centimeter, centennial | hundred or hundredth |
| de- | defrost, debone, devalue | away from, down, reversal or off |
| deca- | decade, decathlon | ten |
| dis- | disagree, disappear | opposite of |
| e- or ex- | exclude, evade | out of or from |
| hex- or sex- | hexagon, sextet | six |
| in- or im- | inadequate, immoral | not or without |
| mal- | malicious, malfunction | wrong or bad |
| mis- | misinformed, misunderstand, mistake | wrongly |
| mono- | monologue, monopoly | one |
| nov-, neo- or nou- | novelty, neonatal | new |
| oct- | octagon, octane, octopus | eight |
| omni- | omnipotent, omnivore | all |
| para- | parallel, paranoid | beside |
| poly- | polygamous, polygon | many |
| post- | posterior, post-mortem | after |
| pre- | precooked, prefix, premonition | before or in front |
| pro- | proceed, proclaim | to go forth or put forth |
| quad-, quar- or quat- | quart, quadrant | four |
| quin- | quintuplets, quintet | five |
| se- | segregate, separate | away or apart |
| sept- | septuplet, septet | seven |
| sub- | submarine, subtitle, subpar | under |
| super- or sur- | supersede, surpass | above or over |
| sym- or syn- | symmetry, synonym | the same |
| trans- | transaction, transit | across or beyond |
Are You Studying for the ASVAB?
If you’re studying prefixes because you’re trying to score your best on the Word Knowledge subtest of the ASVAB, you’ll be glad to know that the book is full of great information that can help you get your best score.
