44 Key Medical and English Prefixes

a-, an, ir-,ar-

Without, lack of, no-, not

Examples: a/febrile (w/o fever), an/emia (lack of blood), ar/rhythmia (no rhythm)

ab-, ef-

away from

Examples: ab/normal (away normal), ef/ferent nerve (away/carry)

ad-, af-

toward, to

Examples: ad/hesion (to stick/process of), af/ferent nerve (toward/carry)

ambi-

both, double, two

Examples: ambi/dextr/ous (both/right/refers to)

ana-

apart, up, back, again

Examples: Ana/tom/y (cutting/apart/procedure of)

ante-

before, in front of

Examples: ante/cubit/al (in front of/elbow/refers)

anti-

against, reversed

Examples: anti/sepsis (against infection or poison)

bi-, bin-, di-, diplo-, co-

two, twice, double

Example: bi/nocul/ar (two/eyes/refers), co/llateral (two/sides)

cata-

down, under, against

Examples: cata/bol/ism (down/lump/state of)

circum-

around, about, circle

Examples: circum/duct/ion (around/draw/process of)

com-, con-, co-

together, with, both (two)

Examples: com/minuted (together/small), co/llateral (both/sides), co/herent (together/stick), con/junctiva (together/join)

contra-

against, opposite

Examples: contra/cept/ion (against/conception/refers)

de-

away from, remove

Examples: de/hydr/ate (remove/water/refers to)

dia-

across, complete, between, total, apart, through

Examples: dia/phragm (across/wall), dia/gnosis (complete/knowledge)

dis-

apart or away from, reverse

Examples: dis/infect (away from/poison or infection)

e-

out, to remove, protrude

Examples: e/viscer/ate (take out/organ/refers to)

ec-

out from, out

Examples: ec/topic (out/of place/refers to)

ecto-

on outer side, situated on

Examples: ecto/derm (outer/skin)

em-, en-

in, within

Examples: en/cephal/on (in/headrefers to “brain”)

endo-

within

Examples: endo/metri/um (within/uterus/refers to)

epi-

upon on

Examples: epi/derm/is (upon/skin/refers to)

ex-, exo-

upon, on, outside, on outer side, outer layer, protrude

Examples: exo/gen/ous (outside/originating/refers), ex/ophthalm/ic (protrude/eye/refers)

extra-

outside

Examples: extra/cellul/ar (outside/cell/refers to)

hyper-

excessive, over, above, more

Examples: hyper/troph/y (over,growth,process of)

hypo-

under, below, deficient, low, less, lesser

Examples: hypo/tens/ion (low/contract or stress/process of)

im-, in-

in, into, or not

Examples: im/mature (not/mature), in/cis/ion (in/cut/process of)

infra-

below, under

Examples: infra/clavicul/ar (below/collar bone/refers)

inter-

between

Examples: inter/cost/al (between/ribs/relating to)

intra-

within

Examples: intra/cerebr/al (within/cerebrum/refers to)

intro-, into-

within, in, into, inward

Examples: intro/vers/ion (inward/turning/process of)

meta-

beyond, after, change

Examples: meta/carp/al (beyond/wrist/refers to), meta/bol/ism (change/lump/refers to)

para-

beside, near, beyond

Examples: para/cardi/ac (beside, heart, refers to)

per-

through, excessive, in

Examples: per/meate (through/opening)

peri-

around

Examples: peri/oste/um (around/bone/refers to)

post-

after, behind

Examples: post/part/um (after/childbirth/refers to)

pre-, pro-

before, in front of

Examples: pre/maxillary (front of/jaw/refers to), pro/gnosis (before/knowledge)

re-

back, again, contrary

Examples: re/flex (again/bend)

retro-

backward, behind

Examples: retro/grade (backward/going)

sub-

under, low, beneath

Examples: sub/cutane/ous (under/skin/refers to)

super-

above, upper, upon, excessive

Examples: super/i/or (above/one who)

supra-

above, upper, upon, excessive

Examples: supra/stern/al (above, sternum/refers to)

sym-, syn-

together, with

Examples: sym/phy/sis (together/growing/state of), syn/drome (together/run)

trans-

across, beyond, through

Examples: tran/sect/ion (across/cut/process)

ultra-

beyond, in excess

Examples: ultra/violet (beyond/spectrum color)