Biology Prefixes and Roots

Prefixes and Roots in Biology

• a-, an-: Not, without (e.g., anemia)
• ab-: Away from (e.g., abnormal)
• abscic-, abscis-: Cut off (e.g., abscission)
• acu-: Needle, sharp (e.g., acupuncture)
• ad-, af-: To, toward (e.g., adrenal, afferent)
• alb-: White (e.g., albumin)
• -algia: Pain (e.g., fibromyalgia)
• amphi-: Both ends or all sides (e.g., amphibious)
• ana-: Up, back, again (e.g., anagram)
• ante-: Before, forward (e.g., antebrachium)
• anti-: Against (e.g., antitoxin)
• aqua-, aque-: Water (e.g., aquatic)
• archae-: Ancient (e.g., archaeopteryx)
• arthr-: Joint (e.g., arthritis)
• -ase: Enzyme (e.g., lactase)
• atmo-: Vapor, breath, air (e.g., atmosphere)
• aud-, audio-: To hear, sound, hearing (e.g., audiology)
• auto-: Self (e.g., autoimmune)
• bi-: Two or twice (e.g., biceps)
• bio-: Life (e.g., biology)
• blast-: That which will germinate (e.g., blastula)
• brachi-: Arm (e.g., brachial)
• carcine-: Cancer (e.g., carcinogen)
• card-: Heart (e.g., cardiology)
• carn-: Meat (e.g., carnivore)
• -caryo-, -karyo-: Nucleus of a cell (e.g., eukaryote)
• cata-: Down (e.g., catalyst)
• centi-: Hundred (e.g., centimeter)
• cephalo-: Head (e.g., cephalothorax)
• chloro-: Green (e.g., chloroplast)
• chromo-: Color (e.g., chromatography)
• -cide: Kill(ing) (e.g., insecticide)
• coel-: Cavity (e.g., coelom)
• com-, con-: With, together (e.g., community)
• -costa: Rib (e.g., intercostal)
• -cyst: Capsule (e.g., nematocyst)
• -cyto-, -cyte: Cell (e.g., leukocyte)
• dec-: Ten (e.g., deciliter)
• decid-: To cut off (e.g., deciduous)
• dendr-: Tree (e.g., dendrite)
• derm-: Skin (e.g., dermatitis)
• dent-, -dont-: Tooth (e.g., denture, orthodontist)
• di-: Two (e.g., diatomic)
• dis-, dys-: Ill or bad (e.g., disease)
• dors-: Back (e.g., dorsal)
• eco-: Habitat or household (e.g., ecology)
• ecto-: Outer (e.g., ectoderm)
• -ectomy: Cutting, removal (e.g., appendectomy)
• -edema: Swelling (e.g., edema)
• -emia: Blood (e.g., anemia)
• endo-: Inner (e.g., endoderm)
• enter-: Intestine (e.g., enteric)
• epi-: On, at, or beside (e.g., epidermis)
• erythro-: Red (e.g., erythrocyte)
• eu-: True (e.g., eukaryote)
• ex-: Out (e.g., exterior)
• -fer: Bearer (e.g., transfer)
• fibri-: Hair-like (e.g., fibril)
• flagel: Whip (e.g., flagellum)
• flor-: Flower (e.g., floral)
• gamete-: Egg or sperm (e.g., gametogenesis)
• gastro-: Stomach (e.g., gastroenteritis)
• -gen: Producing (e.g., antigen)
• geo-: Earth (e.g., geography)
• gluco-: Sweet (e.g., glucose)
• graph-: Write, draw, record (e.g., graphic)
• gymno-: Naked (e.g., gymnosperm)
• hapl-: Single (e.g., haploid)
• hemo-, hema-, hem-: Blood (e.g., hemoglobin)
• hepato-: Liver (e.g., hepatitis)
• herb-: Non-woody plant (e.g., herbarium)
• hetero-: Other, different (e.g., heterozygous)
• hist-: Tissue (e.g., histology)
• homo-, homeo-: Same (e.g., homozygous)
• hydr-, hydro-: Fluid (e.g., hydrogenase)
• hyper-: Above or excessive (e.g., hyperactivity)
• hypo-: Below or not enough (e.g., hypothyroidism)
• -ia, -iasis: Disease (e.g., pneumonia)
• ichthys-: Fish (e.g., ichthyology)
• inter-: Between (e.g., interspecies)
• intra-: Within (e.g., intraspecific)
• iso-: Same (e.g., isotonic)
• -itis: Inflammation of (e.g., appendicitis)
• kilo-: Thousand (e.g., kilogram)