An affix is a set of letters generally added to the beginning or end of a root word or base word to modify its meaning. The root is the portion of the word that remains when all prefixes and suffixes have been removed. Now that you've answered the question, "What are affixes," explore the types by looking at several examples of prefixes and suffixes.
Affix Definition and Types
As you now know, an affix is a word that can be added to a root word or base word to add a new meaning. The two main types of affixes are prefixes and suffixes. For example, in the word conforming, con- is the prefix and -ing is the suffix, while "form" is the root. For another example, let’s examine the root word cred. Thanks to affixes, it can be transformed into incredible with the prefix in- and by the suffix -ible.
Root Words and Roots
Affixes attach to a root word, root or base word. A root word is a traditional Greek or Latin word. These might be complete words, but are more commonly not complete words, like the root word carn. However, modern English has also classified words as roots. These are not Greek or Latin base words. Instead, the roots are parts of a word that can't be broken down any further.
For example, let’s examine the root reserve. This word can't be broken down further, but it can be transformed into unreserved by the prefix un- or even unreservedly by the suffixes -ed and -ly. Now that you know a bit about root words and roots, it's time to dive right into the affix examples by looking at prefixes and suffixes.
Prefix Examples
Prefixes are attached to the beginning of a root word, root or a base word. They create a new word with a new meaning. Here’s a list of common prefixes, along with their meaning and a sample sentence:
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
| ante- | before, in front of | He didn't know what an antecedent was in grammar. |
| co- | with, together | Her lack of French language fluency made it hard for her to co-exist with native French citizens. |
| de- | down, off | The hard drive in your computer can degrade over time. |
| extra- | beyond, more than | The teacher offered extracurricular activities for the students to improve their grades. |
| non- | not | The worst part of a low-fat diet is nonfat milk. |
| tele- | over distance | The introduction of the telephone allowed people to talk over far distances. |
| up- | up top, better | The cellphone he had was in desperate need of an upgrade. |
For more examples, check out prefix examples.
Prefixes and Hyphens
From time to time, you might see a hyphen placed between a prefix and a root word. This is common when the prefix ends in the same letter as the root word begins. For example, if a world leader has an anti-immigration policy, you’ll generally want to place a hyphen between the prefix and the base.
Next, hyphens are required when a prefix is about to join a proper noun. For example, if you’re taking a trans-Atlantic flight from New York to Ireland, you’ll need a hyphen before the proper noun “Atlantic.”
Finally, four prefixes almost always take a hyphen before joining their root word or base word. This is one of those tricky grammar rules you’ll have to commit to memory. Most style guides instruct writers on hyphen usage. So, be sure to consult your teacher’s style guide when in doubt. In the meantime, try to err on the side of a hyphen if you ever want to use the following prefixes.
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
| all- | the whole amount, quantity, or extent of | Her knowledge of 15th-century Ireland was all-encompassing. |
| cross- | to pass in a different direction or intersect | He refused to submit for cross-examination. |
| ex- | former, out of | She had a coffee meeting with her ex-business partner. |
| self- | a person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others | Hygge is the Danish practice of self-care. |
For more on hyphens, review these hyphen rules.
Suffix Examples
Suffixes are attached to the end of a root word or base word. They, too, create a new word with a new meaning. Review this list of common suffixes, along with their meanings and sample sentences:
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
| -dom | state of being | In America, freedom is important to the people. |
| -ent | performs an action | The child was dependent on their mother. |
| -ible | able to be or relevant to | When he mutters, his speech is incomprehensible. |
| -ify | become or make | He ate the cheeseburger to satisfy his hunger. |
| -ious | characterized by | The boy was very studious. |
| -tion | state of being | Ad is an abbreviation for an advertisement. |
| -ure | action or result | The failure of the marketing department caused the lawsuit. |
It’s important to note that you can add more than one prefix or suffix to a word. You can see it in words like disenfranchisement and unsuccessfully. Other examples include nonconformist, counter-revolutionary, reorganization, and unquantifiable.
For even more examples, check out this list of suffixes and suffix examples.
Spelling and Suffixes
In some cases, the spelling of a root is altered when a suffix is added. Consider the word unimaginable. Its root is “imagine.” Often, when a word ends in a silent -e, the -e is dropped and the suffix is added.
Another common sight is the changing of a “y” to an “i.” Take the word pretty. If you want to say someone is “more” pretty than someone else, you might say, “Rebecca Ferguson is prettier than her lookalike, Ingrid Bergman.”
Of course, where there’s a spelling rule, there’s an exception. For more on that, review these suffix spelling rules.
Combining Forms
You can't create an article about affixes without talking about combining forms. While combining forms aren't exactly an affix, they do act similarly. By definition, a combining form is a new word that is created by combining two independent words (para + trooper) or two affixes (micro- + -scope). While affixes are added to existing root words or roots to modify the meaning, combining forms work to create new words. For example, the para- in paratrooper represents the word parachute. Trooper and para- are combined to create a word for military officers that parachute out of planes.
Keep Building Out Words and Sentences
We hope these examples of affixes will help you continue to build out words and sentences with clarity and meaning. Stack your prefixes atop root words, and tag on a suffix where applicable. All this talk about root words may leave you wondering about base words. For more on the two terms, we hope you’ll enjoy are base words and root words the same?