Prefixes

Prefixes

Prefixes are the element added to the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning. Prefixes typically indicate presence, absence, location, size, time, number, or status.

Common Medical Prefixes

Prefix

Meaning

Prefix

Meaning

a-; an-

Without

hypo-

Deficient; low

aniso-

Unequal

intra-

Within

ante-

Before; in front of

macro-

Large

anti-

Against

mega-

Large

bi-

Two

micro-

Small

brady-

Slow

mono-

One

circum-

Around

peri-

Around

di-

Two; twice

post-

After

dys-

Bad; difficult

pre-

Before

endo-

Within; inner

semi-

Half

epi-

On; over; upon

super-

Above; upper

extra-

Outside

supra-

Above

hemi-

Half

tachy-

Fast; rapid

homo-

Same

trans-

Across; through

hyper-

Excessive; high

tri-

Three