Added 9 October 2026

prefix

/ˈpɹiːfɪks/ noun

In Latin: praeverbium, praefīxum Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about prefix at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Something placed before another A morpheme added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning, for example as, pre- in prefix, con- in conjure, re- in reheat, etc.
in the UK, a number with an 0800 prefix is a toll-free number.
A morpheme added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning, for example as, pre- in prefix, con- in conjure, re- in reheat, etc.
A set of digits placed before a telephone number, to indicate where the number is based, what type of phone number it is (landline, mobile, toll-free, premium rate etc.)
in the UK, a number with an 0800 prefix is a toll-free number.

To determine beforehand; to set in advance. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
They duly arrived at the prefixed hour.
To put or fix before, or at the beginning of something; to place at the start.
His requests for money were usually prefixed by an apology.

Borrowed from Late Latin praefīxum, from Latin praefīxus, past participle of praefīgō (“to (fix, fasten, set up) in front”, “to fix on the (end, extremity)”) (from prae- (“before”) + fīgō (“to fix”, “to fasten”, “to affix”)), equivalent to pre- + -fix. Doublet of the archaic synonym prefixum.