prefix

UK: /ˈpriːfɪks/

US: /n. ˈprifɪks; v. also priˈfɪks/

US: (n. prē′fiks; v. prē′fiks, prē fiks′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•fix /n. ˈprifɪks; v. also priˈfɪks/   n. [countable]

1. Grammar an affix placed before a base or another prefix, as un- in unkind, and un- and re- in
   unrewarding.

v. [~ + object]

2. to fix or put before or in front.
3. Grammar to add as a prefix.

See -fix-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•fix  (n. prē′fiks;v. prē′fiks, prē fiks′), n. 

1. Grammar an affix placed before a base or another prefix, as un- in unkind, un- and re- in unrewarding.
2. something prefixed, as a title before a person's name.

v.t. 

3. to fix or put before or in front:
   to prefix an impressive title to one's name.
4. Grammar to add as a prefix.
5. to fix, settle, or appoint beforehand.

• Neo-Latin praefixum, neuter of praefixus
• Latin praefixus, past participle of praefīgere to set up in front; see pre-, fix; (noun, nominal)
• Middle French prefixer
• (verb, verbal) late Middle English prefixen 1375–1425

pre•fix′a•ble, adj. 
pre•fix•al  (prē′fik səl, prē fik′-), adj.  pre′fix•al•ly, adv. 
pre•fix•ion  (prē fik′shən), n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

prefix noun / ˈpriːfɪks/

1. an affix that precedes the stem to which it is attached, as for example un- in unhappy
   Compare suffix1
2. something coming or placed before

verb / priːˈfɪks ˈpriːfɪks/(transitive)

1. to put or place before
2. to add (a morpheme) as a prefix to the beginning of a word

prefixion / priːˈfɪkʃən/ noun