What does the prefix 'non' indicate?

The prefix 'non' signifies negation or absence, meaning 'not', 'no', or 'none'. It is commonly used to create words that indicate a lack of something or the opposite condition of the root word. For example, 'nonexistent' means not existing, and 'noncompliant' refers to not complying. This understanding is crucial in various contexts, such as medical terminology, legal language, and everyday vocabulary, as it modifies the meaning of the words to convey a clear absence or negation. The other options don't reflect this negating quality, with terms like 'after', 'within', and 'for' indicating different relationships or conditions rather than negation.