Common Biology Prefixes and Suffixes

Vocabulary flashcards covering biology prefixes, suffixes, and root words with their meanings and examples.

a-, an-

A prefix meaning not, without, lacking, or deficient. Example: apetalous, atypical.

aero-

A prefix meaning air. Example: aerobic.

ad-

A prefix meaning to, toward. Example: adaxial epidermis, adhere.

auto-

A prefix meaning self. Example: autoimmune.

bi-

A prefix meaning two. Example: biradial.

bi-, bio-

A prefix meaning (Greek) life, living. Example: abiotic, biotic.

chlor-

A prefix meaning green. Example: chlorophyll.

cyto-

A prefix meaning cell. Example: cytoplasm.

co-

A prefix meaning together. Example: codominance.

di-, dipl-

A prefix meaning two, double. Example: diploid.

eco-

A prefix meaning house. Example: ecosystem.

ecto-

A prefix meaning outside of. Example: ectoparasite.

en-, em-, endo-, ent-

A prefix meaning in, into, within, inside. Example: embolism, endoskeleton.

eu-

A prefix meaning true, normal. Example: eumetazoans.

ex-, exo-

A prefix meaning out of, away from. Example: exothermic.

gam-, game-

A prefix meaning united, sexual. Example: gamete.

glyco-

A prefix meaning glucose / sugar. Example: glycogen.

hapl-, haplo-

A prefix meaning simple, single. Example: haploid.

herb-

A prefix meaning grass, plants. Example: herbicide, herbivore.

hetero-

A prefix meaning different, other. Example: heterozygous.

homo-

A prefix meaning same, alike. Example: homozygous.

hydro-

A prefix meaning water. Example: hydrolysis.

hyper-

A prefix meaning above, excessive. Example: hypersecretion.

hypo-

A prefix meaning below, less. Example: hypodermic.

iso-

A prefix meaning equal, same. Example: isovolumetric.

lipo-

A prefix meaning fat. Example: lipophobic.

macr-, macro-

A prefix meaning large. Example: macroscopic.

multi-

A prefix meaning many. Example: multilobed.

mut-, muta-

A prefix meaning change. Example: mutagen.

photo-

A prefix meaning light. Example: photoreceptor.

phyto-

A prefix meaning plant. Example: phytohormone.

poly-

A prefix meaning many. Example: polysaccharide.

sacchar-

A root word or prefix meaning sugar. Example: disaccharide.

som-, somat-, -some

A prefix or suffix meaning body. Example: somatic cell.

telo-

A prefix meaning end. Example: telophase.

tri-

A prefix meaning three. Example: triglycerides.

uni-

A prefix meaning one, single. Example: unicycle.

zygo-

A prefix meaning joined together. Example: zygomorphic.

-aceous

A suffix meaning of or pertaining to. Example: proteinaceous.

-ase

A suffix meaning enzyme. Example: amylase.

-cyte

A suffix meaning cell. Example: gametocyte.

-cellular

A suffix meaning related to cells. Example: multicellular.

-gene, gene-

A suffix or prefix meaning origin, birth. Example: genetics.

karyo-, -karyo

A prefix or suffix meaning nucleus of the cell. Example: prokaryote.

disease, destruction suffix

A suffix meaning disease, destruction. Example: atelectasis.

-logy

A suffix meaning study. Example: biology.

-ose

A suffix meaning sugar. Example: cellulose.

-philic

A suffix meaning love. Example: hemophilic.

-phobic

A suffix meaning hate. Example: claustrophobic.

-phyll

A suffix meaning leaf. Example: microsporophyll.

-plasm-, -plast

A prefix or suffix meaning form, formed into. Example: ectoplasm.

-sis, -ous

A suffix meaning condition, state. Example: diagnosis.

-stasis

A suffix meaning standing, placed, staying. Example: hemostasis.

-synthesis

A suffix meaning put together. Example: photosynthesis.

-troph

A suffix meaning food. Example: autotroph.

-vor

A suffix meaning eat. Example: carnivore.