quasi-

UK/ˈkweɪzaɪ/UK/ˈkweɪsaɪ/UK/ˈkwɑːzi/US/ˈkwɑˌzaɪ/

prefix

Almost; virtually.

Similar
pene-sub--ass-likepartiallydemi-semi-sort of
OriginLatin quasī̆ ← Proto-Italic *sei ← Proto-Indo-European *só →
First used 17th c.
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Meanings

prefix
  1. Almost; virtually.

    The quasi-death of insanity with its small periodic remissions, its deviations into good sense, even into brilliant insight, was almost more cruel really than outright death.

    1974, Lawrence Durrell, Monsieur, Faber & Faber, published 1992, page 18

    Synonyms: pene-, sub-, -ass, -like

  2. Apparently, seemingly, or resembling.First known use 17th c.
  3. To a limited extent or degree; being somewhat or partially.

    The British constitution famously rests on convention. This requires a compact between politicians working as a cabinet and a quasi-independent civil service.

    2020 July 20, Simon Jenkins, “Britain deserves better than an Old Etonian Donald Trump”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 12 Aug 2020

    Synonyms: partially, demi-, semi-, sort of, semi-

Synonyms & antonyms

prefixAlmost; virtually.

Similar
pene-sub--ass-like

prefixTo a limited extent or degree; being somewhat or partially.

Similar
partiallydemi-semi-sort ofsemi-

resembling

Similar
para--oid-form-iform-esque-ish-ly-some-y
Also see
ana--ass-form-ish-like-lynear-oidpara-pene-semi-sub-

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*kʷ-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*kʷís
  3. Proto-Italic*kʷis
  4. Proto-Indo-European*kʷ-
  5. Proto-Indo-European*kʷos
  6. Proto-Italic*kʷoi
  7. Latinquam
  8. Proto-Indo-European*só
  9. Proto-Italic*sei
  10. Latinsī
  11. Latinquasī̆
  12. Englishquasi-

Borrowed from Latin quasi (“almost; as it were”), from quam (interrogative adverb) + sī (conditional particle).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Danish kvasi-, nær-
  • kvasi-almost
  • nær-almost
Finnish kvasi-
  • kvasi-almost
Polish niby-, quasi-
  • niby-almost
  • quasi-almost
  • para-almost
Spanish cuasi-
  • cuasi-almost

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with quasi-

quasiclassygrassyMalagasyglassyAnasazifugazikazinasibrassykhazi
All rhymes →

Sounds the same

quasi
Cite this entry
APA

quasi-. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quasi-

MLA

“quasi-.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quasi-. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “quasi-,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/quasi-.

Source: quasi- on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.