prefix.

1. An affix added before a word or stem to modify its meaning or form.

2. To place or attach an element before a word, name or other item.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• negative prefix
• productive prefix

On the page

The negative prefix changed the meaning without reversing every implication of the word.

The productive prefix occurred in several established words with different usage restrictions.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: Singular prefix; plural prefixes. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: language analysis, sense distinction, word formation analysis, precise reference. Disciplines: academic writing, linguistics, dictionary and usage analysis. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: prefixes.