What does the prefix non- mean?
Non- negates in an objective and neutral way. It says that something is not a certain way, without implying that it is bad or lacking. Unlike un- or dis-, non- carries no judgment: it just shows absence.
ESEN
Prefix · neutral negation
non-
Negates neutrally and objectively without implying fault: nonstop, nonprofit, nonfiction.
Basic
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Non-, un- or in-: which one do I use?
Non- is used to create categories: a type of thing that does not have a certain characteristic. Un- and in- are used with adjectives to negate a quality. If you describe a type or a category (it is an X that is not Y), use non-. If you negate a quality (not happy, not visible), use un- or in-.
How it is used
Attaches directly to nouns, adjectives, and adverbs, with or without a hyphen:
- non- + nounprofit → nonprofitfiction → nonfictionviolence → nonviolence
- non- + adjectivestop → nonstopverbal → nonverbalviolent → nonviolentrefundable → nonrefundable
American English typically writes without a hyphen (nonprofit, nonstop). British English and formal writing more often use a hyphen (non-profit, non-stop). Both forms are accepted.
How it is pronounced
non-/nɒn/
Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Root word
With non-
In a phrase
- stopnonstopThe nonstop flight from Madrid takes about nine hours.
- profitnonprofitShe works for a nonprofit that teaches free English classes.
- fictionnonfictionShe prefers nonfiction because she learns more from real stories.
- verbalnonverbalExperts say most human communication is nonverbal.
- sensenonsenseThe politician's explanation was complete nonsense.
- refundablenonrefundableThe booking fee is nonrefundable, so read the terms first.
- judgmentalnonjudgmentalShe chose a therapist who was completely nonjudgmental.
Common mistakes
non- and un- are interchangeable
non- creates categories; un- negates individual qualities
"Nonprofit" (a type of organisation) uses non-. "Unhappy" (a personal state) uses un-. They are not interchangeable: "nonhappy" and "unprofit" are not words.
nonsense = only "lack of meaning"
nonsense is also used to reject something as absurd or untrue
"That's nonsense" = that is completely wrong or absurd. It is stronger than "that doesn't make sense" and often implies disbelief or frustration.
A trick to remember it
Picture a neutral, matter-of-fact sign: "non-" simply says "no" without judgment, unlike "un-" or "dis-" which can sound stronger. nonstop, nonprofit.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between "nonviolent" and "not violent"?
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
"The booking fee is ___, so read the terms carefully before paying."
Frequently asked questions
What does the prefix non- mean in English?
The prefix non- negates neutrally and objectively without implying fault: nonstop, nonprofit, nonfiction.
How do you pronounce non-?
The prefix non- is pronounced /nɒn/. For example, "nonstop".
Can you give an example of a word with non-?
"stop" becomes "nonstop". It is a typical example of the non- prefix.
Other useful prefixes
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un-, re-, pre-, dis-, over-, in-... every beginning you need to unlock thousands of English words at once.