Medical Terminology - Prefixes

Medical Terminology: Prefixes

• A-, an- indicates a lack or absence of something.
• Ab- means away from or to take away.
• Ad- refers to a direction towards or near something.
• Ambi-, ambo- signifies both sides or both.
• Amphi- denotes double or both sides.
• Ana- represents upward or apart.
• Ante- means before, in front of, or forward.
• Anti- indicates opposition or being against.
• Ap-, apo- signifies separation or derivation from something.
• Aut-, auto- means self or by oneself.
• Bi- indicates double, two, or twice.
• Brady- refers to being slow, especially relating to heart rhythm/rate.
• Brachy- denotes something that is short.
• Cata- signifies downward or lower, often in a negative context.
• Circum- means around.
• Co-, con-, com- imply togetherness or companionship.
• Contra- refers to being against or opposed to something.
• De- means down, removal, or from.
• Di- indicates a duality or two.
• Dia- signifies through, apart, across, or between.
• Dis- indicates separation or freedom from something.
• Dys- means bad, painful, or difficult.
• E-, ec-, ex- signifies coming from or away from.
• Ect-, exo-, ecto- mean outside or outer.
• Em-, en- refers to being inside or within something.
• End-, endo-, ent-, ento- denotes being within or inner.
• Epi-, ep- signifies being upon, over, or on.
• Eu- means normal or good.
• Extra-, extro- indicates beyond, outside of, or outward.
• Hemi-, semi- denotes half or a fraction of something.
• Hyper- indicates excess, over, or beyond the normal level.
• Hyp-, hypo- means below, beneath, or deficient.
• Im-, in- signifies being within or into something.
• Infra- means below or beneath.
• Inter- refers to being between.
• Intra- denotes being within or inside.
• Intro- means entering or going within.
• Macro- signifies large or extensive.
• Mal- indicates something that is bad.
• Mes-, meso- refers to the middle.
• Meta- signifies beyond, transformation, or change.
• Micro-, micr- means tiny or small.
• Mono-, uni- indicates one or singular.
• Mult-, multi- denotes many or multiple.
• Neo- means new or recent.
• Oligo- signifies scanty or few.
• Pan- indicates all or everything.
• Para- refers to being beside, beyond, or after.
• Per- means through or thoroughly.
• Peri- signifies around or surrounding.
• Poly- indicates many or excessive.
• Post- signifies after, following, or behind.
• Pre-, pro- refers to being before or in front of something.
• Presby- indicates old age.
• Pseudo- means false or not genuine.
• Quadri- signifies four.
• Re- indicates repetition or going backward.
• Retro- means behind or backward.
• Semi- refers to half or partial.
• Sub- signifies under or beneath.
• Super-, supra- indicates above, excessive, or superior.
• Sym-, syn- means with or together.
• Tachy- refers to being rapid or fast.
• Trans- indicates through or across.
• Tri- signifies three.
• Ultra- implies excessive or beyond normal limits.