Analyzing Science Terms: Prefixes and Suffixes

Principles of Scientific Vocabulary and Terminology

• The study of biology requires a foundational understanding of technical medical and scientific terms.

• Scientific jargon is systematically constructed using specific prefixes and suffixes.

• Familiarity with common root elements provides functional clues for decoding complex and seemingly exotic biological words.

Dictionary of Biological Prefixes

• A- / An-: Means not.

• Anti-: Means against.

• Auto-: Means self.

• Bio-: Means related to life.

• Co- / Con-: Means together.

• Cyto-: Means cell.

• Di-: Means double.

• Ex- / Exo-: Means out.

• Glyco-: Means sweet/sugar.

• Hetero-: Means different.

• Homeo-: Means same.

• Hydro-: Means related to water.

• Hypo-: Means lower.

• In- / En-: Means inside.

• Inter-.: Means between.

• Intra-: Means within.

• Macro-: Means large.

• Micro-: Means small.

• Multi-: Means consisting of many parts.

• Plasm-: Means forming substance.

• Pro-: Means before.

• Syn- / Sym-: Means together.

• Uni-: Means one.

Dictionary of Biological Suffixes

• -ation: Means process.

• -cellular: Means dealing with cells.

• -gen: Means producing.

• -itis: Means inflammation.

• -karyo: Means nucleus.

• -lysis: Means break/burst.

• -meter: Means measurement.

• -meros: Means part/piece.

• -molecular: Means related to molecules.

• -morph: Means shape/form.

• -ology: Means study.

• -phage: Means eater.

• -phase: Means stage.

• -plast: Means organized living material.

• -scope: Means instrument for viewing.

• -soma: Means body.

• -spore: Means seed.

• -stasis: Means stationary condition.

• -syntesis: Means to put together.

• -therm: Means heat.

• -troph: Means food/feeder.