Prefixes are added to the front of a root word that change the meaning of that word. They may indicate position or direction, numbers or measurements. Some prefixes may cause a word to mean the opposite of what it would otherwise. Other prefixes denote color. A prefix will always change a root word in the same way.
Some prefixes may have more than one definition. The meaning is determined by the context. More than one prefix may have the same or similar definitions. The choice of prefix often comes with experience as some prefixes are typically used with particular root words.
Word association may help people to remember the meaning of a prefix. Some prefixes may be familiar. For example, bi- means two. A way to remember this is to think of a bicycle, which has two wheels. Other prefixes may not be as familiar, and those who are studying may find it helpful to learn complete medical terms containing the prefixes that may help one to recall the word part definition. For example, erythr/o means red. Erythrocyte is another name for a red blood cell.
How to Use These Flash Cards
These free prefix medical terminology flash cards are designed to help readers to learn the meaning of each. Simply click on the flash card to enlarge the cards and click on the next thumbnail at the bottom for the next card. The prefix is followed by its definition. You may wish to set a timer to see how quickly you can remember them or try starting with the last flash card and work your way to the front for a variation.
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| Medical Terminology Prefixes |
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| Free Medical Term Flash Cards |
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| What does purpur/o mean? |
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| Purpur/o definition |
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| What does tachy- mean? |
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| Tachy- definition |
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| What does milli- mean? |
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| Milli- definition |
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| What does dia- mean? |
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| Dia- definition |
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| What does ad- mean? |
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| Ad- definition |
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| What does cirrh/o mean? |
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| Cirrh/o definition |
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| What does hemi- mean? |
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| Hemi- definition |
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| What does per- mean? |
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| Per- definition |
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| What does hyper- mean? |
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| Hyper- definition |
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| What does retro- mean? |
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| Retro- definition |
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| What does juxta- mean? |
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| Juxta- definition |
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| What does bi- mean? |
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| Bi- definition |
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| What does eosin/o mean? |
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| Eosin/o definition |
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| What does ultra- mean? |
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| Ultra- definition |
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| What does melan/o mean? |
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| Melan/o definition |
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| What does im- mean? |
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| Im- definition |
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| What does anti- mean? |
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| Anti- definition |
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| What does eu- mean? |
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| Eu- definition |
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| What does hydro- mean? |
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| Hydr/o definition |
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| What does poly- mean? |
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| Poly- definition |
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| What does non- mean? |
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| Non- definition |
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| What does idio- mean? |
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| Idio- definition |
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| What does ambi- mean? |
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| Ambi- definition |
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| What does glauc/o mean? |
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| Glauc/o definition |
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| What does con- mean? |
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| Con- definition |
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| What does primi- mean? |
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| Primi- definition |
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| What does xanth/o mean? |
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| Xanth/o definition |
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| What does multi- mean? |
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| Multi- definition |
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| What does inter- mean? |
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| Inter- definition |
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| What does a- mean? |
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| A- definition |
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| What does exo- mean? |
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| Exo- definition |
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| What does dis- mean? |
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| Dis- definition |
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| What does supra- mean? |
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| Supra- definition |
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| What does tri- mean? |
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| Tri- definition |
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| What does pan- mean? |
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| Pan- definition |
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| What does homeo- mean? |
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| Homeo- definition |
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| What does auto- mean? |
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| Auto- definition |
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| What does ecto- mean? |
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| Ecto- definition |
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| What does sub- mean? |
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| Sub- definition |
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| What does meso- mean? |
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| Meso- definition |
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| What does in- mean? |
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| In- definition |
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| What does brady- mean? |
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| Brady- definition |
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| What does epi- mean? |
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| Epi- definition |
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| What does ab- mean? |
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| Ab- definition |
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| What does pre- mean? |
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| Pre- definition |
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| Pre- definition |
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| What does syn- mean? |
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| Syn- definition |
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| What does poli/o mean? |
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| Poli/o definition |
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| What does mono- mean? |
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| Mono- definition |
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| What does infra- mean? |
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| Infra- definition |
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| What does peri- mean? |
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| Peri- definition |
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| What does de- mean? |
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| De- definition |
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| What does an- mean? |
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| An- definition |
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| What does ex- mean? |
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| Ex- definition |
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| What does semi- mean? |
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| Semi- definition |
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| What does para- mean? |
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| Para- definition |
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| What does jaund/o mean? |
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| Jaund/o definition |
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| What does hyp- mean? |
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| Hyp- definition |
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| What does chlor/o mean? |
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| Chlor/o definition |
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| What does endo- mean? |
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| Endo- definition |
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| What does contra- mean? |
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| Contra- definition |
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| What does pseudo- mean? |
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| Pseudo- definition |
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| What does intra- mean? |
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| Intra- definition |
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| What does meta- mean? |
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| Meta- definition |
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| What does ante- mean? |
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| Ante- definition |
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| What does cyan/o mean? |
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| Cyan/o definition |
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| What does homo- mean? |
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| Homo- definition |
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| What does quadri- mean? |
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| Quadri- definition |
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| What does re- mean? |
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| Re- definition |
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| What does rube- mean? |
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| Rube- definition |
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| What does uni- mean? |
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| Uni- definition |
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| What does bio- mean? |
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| Bio- definition |
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| What does alb- mean? |
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| Alb- definition |
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| What does dys- mean? |
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| Dys- definition |
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| What does extra- mean? |
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| Extra- definition |
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| What does hypo- mean? |
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| Hypo- definition |
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| What does jaund/o mean? |
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| Jaund/o definition |
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| What does circum- mean? |
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| Circum- definition |
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| What does erythr/o mean? |
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| Erythr/o definition |
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| What does hetero- mean? |
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| Hetero- definition |
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| What does post- mean? |
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| Post- definition |
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| What does sym- mean? |
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| Sym- definition |
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| What does albin/o mean? |
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| Albin/o definition |
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| Prefix Flash Cards by Katrena |
The last sentence of your fourth paragraph says that eosinophil is another name for red blood cell, but that is incorrect. The other name for a red blood cell is erythrocyte, whereas an eosinophil is a slightly phagocytic type of white blood cell.
ReplyDeleteThanks for catching that error! It has been corrected.
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