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Glite Dictionary
mal-

mal-

1 7.7
A small part you add to a word to show something is bad or wrong
  • other
  • Specialized
: mal-
  • The prefix mal- in 'malfunction' shows that something is not working correctly.

And that heightened threat environment is fueled by multiple factors, including mis diss and Mal information from foreign and domestic.

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Examples

  • In the word 'malnutrition', the mal- prefix shows that there is a lack of proper nutrition.

  • Words like 'malnutrition' and 'malpractice' use the mal- prefix to indicate something negative.

  • Adding mal- to 'adjusted' creates 'maladjusted', meaning not properly adjusted.

  • The project failed due to maladministration.

  • His ideas were maladjusted to modern society.

  • The prefix mal- in 'malfunction' indicates that something is not working properly.

  • Adding mal- to 'treatment' forms 'mal-treatment', which implies improper or harmful treatment.

Synonyms

mis-
vsmal-
1 4.8

A small word part placed before a word to show something is done wrongly

indicates a general negative or faulty quality rather than only incorrect action
dys-
vsmal-
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A word part at the start of a word that shows something is bad, difficult, or not normal

is used for general negative or faulty meaning outside technical medical use

Antonyms

good
∞ 1.0

Showing positive qualities that other people approve of

benign
59 6.2

Kind and gentle and not likely to cause harm

Surface Forms

mal- main

Etymology

The prefix mal- comes from the old Latin word malus meaning 'bad'. You can spot mal- in words such as malfunction, malnutrition, and malpractice, and it shows something is 'wrong' or not good.