Developing a working vocabulary is definitely one of the biggest challenges in learning Legal English.
However, the good news is that there is a powerful shortcut to boosting your Legal English vocabulary. Becoming familiar with common prefixes and suffixes can help expand your vocabulary and enhance your reading comprehension for the TOEFL test as well!
A prefix is a group of letters added at the beginning of a word that alters the meaning of the root word. A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word that also alters the meaning of the root word.
Let’s look at three examples of prefixes and suffixes. Additional links for further self-study are at the end of this article.
Example 1: -ize
-ize is a suffix added to adjectives and nouns to form transitive verbs with the general meaning of to render, make, or become. Further expand your vocabulary by using -ization to create nouns. (Note: The UK version uses an “s” instead of “z”.)
| Base words |
Verbs |
Nouns |
vocab
| Authority |
Authorize |
Authorization |
| Capital |
Capitalize |
Capitalization |
| Commercial |
Commercialize |
Commercialization |
| Criminal |
Criminalize |
Criminalization |
| Global |
Globalize |
Globalization |
| Illegal |
Illegalize |
Illegalization |
| Minimum |
Minimize |
Minimization |
Your turn: How would you change monopoly, notary, organize, penal, and priority?
Example 2: -or and -ee
-or and -ee are suffixes added to nouns or verbs to indicate a party that grants or gives something (-or) and a party that accepts something from the -or party (-ee). Note that when pronouncing these party designations, the emphasis is on the last syllables (e.g., assigNOR and assigNEE).
| Base words |
-or party |
-ee party |
vocab
| Assign |
Assignor |
Assignee |
| License |
Licensor |
Licensee |
| Lease* |
Lessor (i.e., landlord) |
Lessee (i.e., tenant) |
| Grant |
Grantor |
Grantee |
| Offer |
Offeror |
Offeree |
*Note the spelling change.
Your turn: How would you create -or and -ee party designations for pay, promise, and transfer?
Example 3 : -dis
-dis is a prefix added to nouns, verbs, and adjectives to create a negative or opposing meaning. Note that when pronouncing these party designations, the emphasis is on the last syllables (e.g., assigNOR and assignee).
| Base word |
-Dis words |
vocab
| Inherit |
Disinherit |
| Honest |
Dishonest |
| Allow |
Disallow |
| Continue |
Discontinue |
| Qualify |
Disqualify |
Your turn: How would you create new words with -dis using these base words: ability, bar, arm (referring to weapons), and enfranchise.
Your final turn: Can you think of any other legal words that fall into any of the categories above. Let me know and I will be updating this blow in a few months!
Useful material for self-study:
