100 Prefix Words to Boost Your English Vocabulary

Learning new words can feel hard. But there is a smart way to grow your word bank. One great method is using prefixes. A prefix is a small part added to the start of a word. It changes the meaning of the word. This trick helps you understand many new words fast.

This article will show you 100 prefix words. These words will make your English stronger and smarter.

What Are Prefix Words?

A prefix is a set of letters added before a root word. For example:

• “Un” + “happy” = “unhappy”
• “Re” + “write” = “rewrite”

Prefixes change the meaning of the root word. They can mean “not,” “again,” “before,” “under,” or many other things.

Why Learn Prefixes?

Learning prefixes helps you guess word meanings. You don’t always need a dictionary. You understand more words just by seeing them.

For example:

• “Mis” means wrong.
• The term “misunderstand” refers to the act of understanding something incorrectly or in a mistaken way.
• “Pre” means before.
• “Preview” means to view something before.

By knowing one prefix, you can understand many words.

Common Prefixes and Their Meanings

Let’s look at some popular prefixes. Then we will list 100 prefix words with meanings.

Prefix	Meaning	Example
Un-	Not	Unfair, Unkind
Re-	Again	Reuse, Replay
Pre-	Before	Preheat, Preview
Mis-	Wrong	Mislead, Mistake
Dis-	Not / Opposite	Dislike, Disagree
Over-	Too much	Overwork, Overeat
Under-	Not enough	Underpay, Underrate
In-/Im-	Not	Inactive, Impolite
Non-	Not	Nonstop, Nonfiction
Sub-	Below	Subway, Submarine

Now, let’s explore our full list.

List of 100 Prefix Words with Simple Meanings

Here are 100 easy prefix words. Each one comes with a short meaning.

1. Unhappy – not happy
2. Untie – release
3. Unfair – not fair
4. Unsafe – not safe
5. Unclear – not clear
6. Unkind – not kind
7. Unusual – not usual
8. Unplug – remove plug
9. Unlock – open
10. Undo – reverse action
11. Reuse – use again
12. Replay – play again
13. Rewrite – write again
14. Rebuild – build again
15. Revisit – visit again
16. Repaint – paint again
17. Recheck – check again
18. Reread – read again
19. Recall – call again
20. Reapply – apply again
21. Preview – view before
22. Predict – say before
23. Prepare – get ready
24. Prepay – pay before
25. Preheat – heat before
26. Preload – load before
27. Preschool – school before primary
28. Prebook – book before
29. Pretest – test before
30. Prewrite – write before
31. Misuse – use wrongly
32. Mislead – guide wrongly
33. Mistake – wrong action
34. Misread – read wrong
35. Misplace – place wrongly
36. Misbehave – behave badly
37. Mishear – hear wrongly
38. Misjudge – judge wrongly
39. Misprint – print wrongly
40. Miswrite – write wrongly
41. Dislike – not like
42. Disagree – not agree
43. Disown – reject
44. Disappear – go away
45. Disconnect – break link
46. Disobey – not obey
47. Disrespect – lack respect
48. Disapprove – not approve
49. Discontinue – stop
50. Disengage – remove
51. Overeat – eat too much
52. Overwork – work too much
53. Overthink – think too much
54. Overreact – react too much
55. Overload – load too much
56. Overpay – pay too much
57. Overcook – cook too much
58. Overdo – do too much
59. Overuse – use too much
60. Overlook – miss seeing
61. Underpay – pay too little
62. Underrate – not value enough
63. Underwear – worn underneath
64. Undergo – go through
65. Underline – highlight
66. Underestimate – guess too low
67. Undertake – take responsibility
68. Underscore – stress
69. Underfed – not fed enough
70. Underused – not used much
71. Inactive – not active
72. Incorrect – not correct
73. Incomplete – not complete
74. Insecure – not secure
75. Invisible – can’t be seen
76. Inaccurate – not accurate
77. Impolite – not polite
78. Impossible – not possible
79. Immature – not mature
80. Impatient – not patient
81. Nonstop – never stops
82. Nonsense – no sense
83. Nonfiction – not fiction
84. Nonprofit – no profit
85. Nonbeliever – doesn’t believe
86. Nonliving – not living
87. Nonmember – not a member
88. Nonactive – not active
89. Nontoxic – not toxic
90. Nonreturnable – can’t return
91. Subway – train below
92. Submarine – vessel underwater
93. Subzero – below zero
94. Subgroup – smaller group
95. Subheading – under a heading
96. Submerge – go underwater
97. Subtotal – part of total
98. Substitute – take place of
99. Substandard – below standard
100. Subscription – pay to receive

How to Learn Prefix Words Easily

Start by picking one prefix. Learn its meaning. Then find five words with it. Use them in a sentence. You can also make flashcards. Write the prefix on one side. Write meanings and words on the other. Reading books and news articles also helps. Try to spot prefix words. Break them into prefix + root. Practice often. In time, you’ll know many words just by looking at them.

Final Thoughts

Knowing 100 prefix words helps you learn English faster. These small parts of words give big meaning. You can guess, read, and speak better when you know them. Try to use at least five new words daily. Learning prefixes is like unlocking secret codes. The more you learn, the easier English becomes. Start with these 100 prefix words. Grow your vocabulary one prefix at a time.