Here you’ll find 12 Prefixes that start with X, organized from “xanth-” to “xylo-“. These prefixes are mostly Greek or scientific, and appear in medicine, biology, and descriptive terms.
Prefixes that start with X are short word parts placed before bases to change or refine meaning. Notably, many came into English through Greek, especially in scientific naming and technical vocabulary.
Below you’ll find the table with Prefix, Origin, Meaning, Example words, Notes, and Source.
Prefix: The prefix form in quotes, so you can spot its exact spelling and usage.
Origin: The language root and brief etymology, helping you trace historical background and word-building patterns.
Meaning: A concise, three-to-seven-word gloss that gives the core semantic contribution of the prefix.
Example words: Two to four clear words showing how the prefix changes meaning in real usage.
Notes: Short usage tips, register, or variants to watch for when you apply the prefix in writing.
Source: Compact citation or link to a reliable dictionary or glossary for further verification and study.
Prefixes that start with X
| Prefix | Origin | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| xeno- | Greek | foreign, stranger | xenophobia,xenograft,xenogenesis |
| xen- | Greek | foreign, stranger | xenophobia,xenophile,xenial |
| xylo- | Greek | wood | xylophone,xylem,xylography |
| xyl- | Greek | wood | xylan,xylitol,xylem |
| xero- | Greek | dry | xerography,xerophyte,xerosis |
| xer- | Greek | dry | xeric,xeroderma,xerophile |
| xantho- | Greek | yellow | xanthophyll,xanthoma,xanthine |
| xanth- | Greek | yellow | xanthoma,xanthic,xanthophyll |
| xipho- | Greek | sword-shaped | xiphoid,xiphisternum,xiphosura |
| xiph- | Greek | sword-shaped | xiphoid,xiphisternum,xiphosura |
| xyleno- | Modern | derived from xylene | xylenol,xylenyl,para-xylenol |
| xenobi- | Greek | foreign to living organisms | xenobiotic,xenobiology,xenobiome |