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Common Prefixes Suffixes and Root Words in Biology
A list of common prefixes, suffixes, and root words in biology with definitions and examples.
65
Biology
Undergraduate 1
05/02/2013
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Term

 

 

 bi-, di-





Ex: Binoculars, Dilemma 

 Definition

 

 

TWO

 

 
Term

 

 centi-






Ex: Centipede

 Definition

 

 

ONE HUNDREDTH

 

 

 
Term

 

 

equi-, iso-

 

 

 

 

Ex: Equiangular; Isometric

 Definition

 

 

equal

 

 

 
Term

 

 

haplo-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Haploid

 Definition

 

 

single; simple

 

 

 

 
Term

 

 

hemi-, semi-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Hemisphere; Semicircle

 Definition

 

 

one-half

 

 

 
Term

 

 

HEX-

 

 

 

Ex. Hexagon

 Definition

 

 

 

SIX
Term

 

 

MACRO-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Macroeconomics

 Definition

 

 

 

LARGE
Term

 

 

MICRO-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Microscope

 Definition

 

 

 

SMALL
Term

 

 

MONO-, UNI-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Monogamy, Universe

 Definition

 

 

 

ONE
Term

 

 

MULTI-, POLY-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Multiply; Polygon

 Definition

 

 

 

MANY
Term

 

 

OMNI-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Omnivorous

 Definition

 

 

 

ALL
Term

 

 

PENTA

 

 

 

 

Ex. Pentagon

 Definition

 

 

 

FIVE
Term

 

 

TRI-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Triangle

 Definition

 

 

THREE
Term

 

 

ab-, de- ,ef- ,ex-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Absent; Detach; Effete; Exit

 Definition

 

 

AWAY; AWAY FROM
Term

 

 

ad-, af-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Admit; Affirm

 Definition

 

 

 

TO, TOWARD
Term

 

 

anti-, contra

 

 

 

 

Ex. Antibiotics; Contraband

 Definition

 

 

 

AGAINST, OPPOSITE
Term

 

 

Ecto-, Exo-, Extra-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Ectocyst, Exodus, Extraordinary

 Definition

 

 

OUTSIDE
Term

 

 

Endo-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Endorphin

 Definition

 

 

INNER, WITHIN
Term

 

 

Epi-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Epidemic

 Definition

 

 

UPON, OVER
Term

 

 

Hypo-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Hypoallergenic

 Definition

 

 

UNDER, BELOW
Term

 

 

Hyper-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Hyperactive

 Definition

 

 

ABOVE, OVER
Term

 

 

Inter-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Intermission

 Definition

 

 

BETWEEN
Term

 

 

Pre-, Pro-

 

 

 

 

Ex. Prepare, Prologue

 Definition

 

 

BEFORE
Term

 

Post-




 


Ex. Postpone

 Definition

 

 

 

BEHIND
Term

 

a-, an-, e-

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Amoral, Annotate, Eject

 Definition

 

 

WITHOUT; LACK OF
Term

 

Chloro-

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Chloroplast

 Definition

 

 

GREEN
Term

 

Con-

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Confide

 Definition

 

 

TOGETHER; WITH
Term

 

Eu-

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Eulogy

 Definition

 

 

TRUE; GOOD
Term

 

Hetero-

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Heterosexual

 Definition

 

 

DIFFERENT; OTHER
Term

 

Homo-, Homeo-

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Homosexual, Homeopath

 Definition

 

 

SAME; SIMILAR
Term

 

Sym-, Syn-

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Sympathy, Synonym

 Definition

 

 

TOGETHER; WITH
Term

 

-Cide

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Homocide

 Definition

 

 

KILLER
Term

 

-elle, -il

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Gazelle, Ail

 Definition

 

 

LITTLE, SMALL
Term

 

-lysis

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Analysis

 Definition

 

 

LOOSENING; SPLIT APART
Term

 

-logy

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Biology

 Definition

 

 

STUDY OF
Term

 

-tome, -tomy

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Epitome, Hysterectomy

 Definition

 

 

CUT
Term

 

-Some

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Threesome

 Definition

 

 

BODY
Term

 

-stat

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Thermostat

 Definition

 

STATIONARY; PLACED
Term

 

Andro

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Android

 Definition

 

 

MAN; MALE
Term

 

Aut, -o

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Autobiography

 Definition

 

 

SELF
Term

 

Bio

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Biography

 Definition

 

 

LIFE
Term

 

Blast

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Blastula

 Definition

 

 

BUD; SPROUT
Term

 

Carcin

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Carcinogen

 Definition

 

 

CANCER
Term

 

Cardi

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Cardio

 Definition

 

 

HEART
Term

 

Chrom

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Chromatics

 Definition

 

 

COLOR
Term

 

Cyst

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Cysts

 Definition

 

 

BAG; SAC; BLADDER
Term

 

Cyt

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Cytoplasm

 Definition

 

 

CELL
Term

 

Gen

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Generation

 Definition

 

 

TO PRODUCE
Term

 

Gyn

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Gynecology

 Definition

 

 

FEMALE
Term

 

Hydro

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Hydrophobic

 Definition

 

 

WATER
Term

 

Lip

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Lipid

 Definition

 

 

FAT
Term

 

Morph

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Metamorphosis

 Definition

 

 

SHAPE; FORM
Term

 

oo, ovi

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Ootype, Ovid

 Definition

 

EGG

 
Term

 

 

 Path, -i, -o

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Sociopath

 Definition

 

 

DISEASE
Term

 

Phag, -o

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Esophagus

 Definition

 

 

TO EAT
Term

 

Phyll

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Chlorophyll

 Definition

 

 

LEAF
Term

 

Phyte

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Neophyte

 Definition

 

 

PLANT
Term

 

Plasm

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Cytoplasm

 Definition

 

 

FORMATIVE SUBSTANCE
Term

 

Soma

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Chromosomal

 Definition

 

 

BODY
Term

 

Stasis, stat, -i, -o

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Homeostasis

 Definition

 

 

STATIONARY
Term

 

Sperm

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Sperma

 Definition

 

 

SEED
Term

 

Stoma

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Stomach

 Definition

 

 

MOUTH
Term

 

Thermo

 

 

 

 

 

 Ex. Thermostat

 Definition

 

 

HEAT
Term

 

Troph

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Autotroph

 Definition

 

 

FOOD; NOURISH
Term

 

Vita

 

 

 

 

 

Ex. Vitamin

 Definition

 

 

LIFE
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