prefix
prefix — noun
1. letters put before a base word so the word changes meaning or class
letters put before a base word so the word changes meaning or class
The prefix un- changes kind to unkind in our spelling book.
the prefix + example form
Ms Chen taught three prefixes before lunch: re-, pre-, and mis-.
plural noun: prefixes
Children often learn the prefix pre- when they study time words.
On the class poster, the prefix anti- came before war in red paint.
- common prefix
- negative prefix
- learn prefixes
- prefix un-
- affix
broader; includes prefixes, suffixes, and other added forms
- word part
a simpler classroom term, but less exact
- preformative
technical and much less common
- suffix
a word part added at the end
Grammar Patterns
the prefix un-
a prefix meaning again
learn prefixes
Usage Note
Used mainly in grammar and word study. Distinguish from noun/4, which is about technical strings added before addresses or code.
Common Mistakes
2. a title or label put in front of a person's name or another name
a title or label put in front of a person's name or another name
The invitation used Dr as a prefix before Maya's full name.
prefix before a personal name
The town fair posters used Youth as a prefix before Music Week.
prefix to an event name
The school banner kept Kids as the prefix in Kids Science Day.
On the badge, Mrs appeared as the prefix for Elena Ruiz.
- name prefix
- official prefix
- prefix before a surname
Grammar Patterns
use a prefix before a name
name prefix
official prefix
Usage Note
Usually names a fixed title or label before a full name. Distinguish from noun/5, which is more often a descriptive phrase than part of the naming.
3. digits dialed first on a telephone number for distance, country, or payment type
digits dialed first on a telephone number for distance, country, or payment type
Without the right prefix, Owen could not call the hotel abroad.
dial the prefix before the number
The notice printed the prefix in red above the phone number.
Grandma asked which prefix she must dial for the free hospital line.
The bill showed a premium-rate prefix at the start.
premium-rate prefix
- country prefix
- international prefix
- premium-rate prefix
- wrong prefix
- dialling code
common British term for this sense
- calling code
often used for country-based numbers
- area code
narrower; only for a region, not every prefix type
Grammar Patterns
dial the prefix
country prefix
premium-rate prefix
Usage Note
Often refers to area, country, or special charging codes. In everyday English, code is often more common than prefix.
4. numbers, letters, or signs placed first in a web address or in code
numbers, letters, or signs placed first in a web address or in code
Type the https:// prefix before the rest of the school website address.
prefix in a website address
The login script reads the mailto: prefix before opening the help page.
Our app adds a test prefix to every sample code line.
code prefix
Kai forgot the https:// prefix, so the copied link would not open.
- URL prefix
- secure prefix
- test prefix
- code prefix
Grammar Patterns
URL prefix
code prefix
secure prefix
Usage Note
Common with website, URL, path, and code. Distinguish from noun/1, which belongs to word formation.
5. a word or short phrase regularly put first to describe what follows
a word or short phrase regularly put first to describe what follows
Reporters repeated the prefix former before the minister's name.
descriptive prefix before a name
In class debate, no one liked the prefix so-called before the plan.
prefix so-called
The Sunday paper used the prefix self-styled before guru in its report.
Editors removed the prefix alleged from the online headline.
- descriptive prefix
- critical prefix
- prefix former
- prefix so-called
Grammar Patterns
use a prefix such as former
descriptive prefix
critical prefix
Usage Note
Often carries attitude, doubt, or description, as in former or so-called. Distinguish from noun/2, which is more often a fixed title such as Dr.
prefix — verb
1. to put letters before a base word so it becomes another word
to put letters before a base word so it becomes another word
Please prefix each new verb with re- on the worksheet.
prefix + object + with + letters
The teacher prefixed the root with un- to show the change.
In the game, children prefix color words with super- for fun.
On the worksheet, Mia prefixed happy with un- to make unhappy.
prefix a base word with letters
- prefix a word with un-
- prefix the root with re-
- prefix each verb
- suffix
to add something at the end instead
Grammar Patterns
prefix a word with un-
prefix the root with re-
Usage Note
Usually takes with plus the added letters: prefix X with un-. Distinguish from verb/6, which can take any kind of item, not only letters.
Common Mistakes
2. to dial extra digits before a telephone number, especially for outside calls
to dial extra digits before a telephone number, especially for outside calls
You must prefix the local number with zero from this town.
prefix the number with zero
Lina prefixed the hotel number with the country code.
The card shows how to prefix the phone number with 001.
At the airport phone, Ben forgot to prefix the number with 00.
- prefix the number with zero
- prefix a local number
- prefix the hotel number
Grammar Patterns
prefix the number with zero
prefix a local number
Usage Note
Usually used with number and with plus the needed digits.
3. to put a short string at the front of a web address or line of code
to put a short string at the front of a web address or line of code
The program prefixes each test address with the secure tag.
prefix address with a tag
Rosa prefixed the sample line with a comment mark.
Our tool prefixes every image name with the date.
To fix the old link, Sam prefixed the path with ftp://.
prefix the path with ftp://
- prefix each address with a tag
- prefix the path with ftp
- prefix the sample line
Grammar Patterns
prefix the path with ftp
prefix each address with a tag
Usage Note
Common in technical writing with address, file name, path, or code line.
4. to stand at the start of a name
to stand at the start of a name
In the village records, Saint prefixed several old place names.
word as subject: Saint prefixes names
The word City often prefixes the team name on posters.
On early maps, New prefixed many towns along the river.
On store shelves, Eco prefixes every shampoo name in the line.
brand label prefixes a product line
- prefixes the team name
- prefixes many towns
- prefixes every product line
- precede
broader and more common
- stand before
plain explanatory wording rather than a fixed synonym
- follow
to come after instead
Grammar Patterns
New prefixes many town names
a word prefixes a name
Usage Note
Subject is usually a word or short label, not a person. Distinguish from verb/5, where someone actively says the word.
5. to say a describing word or title before a name
to say a describing word or title before a name
Speakers often prefix President before Ada Wong at formal dinners.
prefix a title before a name
The host prefixed dear before each guest's name.
Parents sometimes prefix little before a child's nickname.
The announcer prefixed brave before the rescue dog's name.
descriptive word before a name
- prefix President before a name
- prefix dear before a name
- prefix brave before a dog's name
Grammar Patterns
prefix President before a name
prefix dear before a name
Usage Note
Object is normally a name, and the added word often shows respect, affection, or description.
6. to put one thing in front of another
to put one thing in front of another
The editor prefixed a short warning to the report.
prefix + object + to + document
Our teacher prefixed the quiz with an easy example.
prefix + object + with + item
The museum prefixed each room description with a number.
Editors prefix every safety guide with a short note for parents.
- prefix a warning to the report
- prefix the quiz with an example
- prefix each description with a number
- append
to put something at the end instead
Grammar Patterns
prefix a warning to the report
prefix the quiz with an example
Usage Note
Broadest verb sense. Distinguish from verb/1 to verb/3, which specify the kind of thing added at the front.
prefix — adjective
1. written with the operator before the number, name, or expression it acts on
written with the operator before the number, name, or expression it acts on
In prefix notation, the sign comes before the numbers.
prefix notation
Our coding class used prefix notation, putting the minus sign before 5.
operator before the number
The workbook prints a prefix form beside the sum 3 + 4.
In Lisp class, students wrote prefix expressions like + 3 4.
prefix expressions
- prefix notation
- prefix expression
- prefix form
- prefix operator
- preposed
technical and broader; can describe anything placed before something else
- Polish-style
used for one famous kind of prefix notation, not for every case
Grammar Patterns
prefix notation
prefix expression
prefix form
Usage Note
Used in computing, logic, and mathematics, often with notation, operator, or expression.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- prefixedadjectiveC2
- prefixationnounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
For noun/1, prefix is the normal learner-friendly word for letters added at the front of a word, such as un- or re-. Affix is the wider grammar term because it covers prefixes, suffixes, and other added parts. Suffix is not a true synonym in position: it goes at the end, not the front. Infix is rarer still and is placed inside a word. Combining form is common in dictionary and linguistics discussion for elements like bio- that help build technical words, but it is not always treated exactly the same way as a basic prefix. For classwork, prefix is usually the clearest choice. Say The prefix un- makes the word negative, but say Affix is the umbrella term in grammar books.
Etymology
Prefix comes from Latin parts meaning before and fasten. It first referred to something fixed at the front of something else. In English, the word later became the grammar term for letters placed before a base word, and then it spread to other things put first.