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ASVAB · Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

The prefix 'MAL-' in words like MALFUNCTION and MALADY indicates:

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Correct answer

Bad or wrong

  1. A Before
  2. B Bad or wrong
  3. C Together
  4. D Many

Why this is the answer

The prefix MAL- means bad, badly, or wrong. A MALFUNCTION is a faulty or bad operation; a MALADY is an illness (a 'bad' condition); MALICE is ill will; MALNUTRITION is poor nourishment. Knowing common prefixes lets you decode unfamiliar words on the test. MAL- consistently signals something bad or defective, so when you see it leading a word you don't know, you can infer a negative meaning. Other useful prefixes include BENE- (good), MIS- (wrong), and DIS- (not/opposite). Recognizing MAL- = bad narrows down the meaning quickly.
Source: ASVAB Word Knowledge — Roots and Prefixes

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About this topic: Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

Roots, prefixes and suffixes let you decode words you have never seen: bene- (good), mal- (bad), -ology (study of), circum- (around). Learning fifty common word parts covers a surprising share of the section. This is one of 6 Word Knowledge questions on roots, prefixes, and suffixes, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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