Use this biology prefix, suffix, and root-word list to look up common parts of scientific terms. The table gives a short meaning and an example to recognize. A word-part clue is a starting point; the complete biological definition still needs checking in context.
Choose your format: Notebook Copy — original Word download, or the two-page PDF and printing guide. The Word file remains at its established address.
Use your browser’s Find command (Ctrl+F or Command+F) to locate a word part or example in this table.
Core biology word parts
| Word part | Meaning clue | Example term |
|---|---|---|
| a-, an- | without or lacking | anaerobic |
| ab- | away from | abduction |
| ad- | toward | adduction |
| aero- | air | aerobic |
| -ase | common enzyme-name ending | lactase |
| auto- | self | autotroph |
| bi- | two | bilateral |
| bio- | life | biology |
| carn- | flesh | carnivore |
| chlor-, chloro- | green | chloroplast |
| chrom-, chromato- | color | chromosome |
| -cide | killing | herbicide |
| cyt-, cyto-, -cyte | cell | cytoplasm, osteocyte |
| cyst-, cysto- | sac or bladder | cyst |
| derm-, dermato- | skin | epidermis |
| di- | two | disaccharide |
| ecto- | outer or outside | ectoderm |
| endo- | within or inside | endocytosis |
| epi- | upon or over | epidermis |
| exo- | outside | exocytosis |
| gastr-, gastro- | stomach | gastric |
| geo- | earth | geotropism |
| gymno- | naked or uncovered | gymnosperm |
| halo- | salt | halophile |
| hem-, hemato- | blood | hematology |
| hemi- | half | hemisphere |
| hetero- | different | heterozygous |
| histo- | tissue | histology |
| homo- | same | homozygous |
| hydr-, hydro- | water | hydrolysis |
| hyper- | above or greater | hypertonic |
| hypo- | below or less | hypotonic |
| inter- | between | intercellular |
| intra- | within | intracellular |
| iso- | equal or same | isotonic |
| -itis | inflammation | dermatitis |
| karyo- | nucleus | eukaryote |
| leuc-, leuko- | white | leukocyte |
| -logy | study of | zoology |
| -lysis | breaking down | hydrolysis |
| macro- | large | macromolecule |
| meso- | middle | mesophyll |
| meta- | change or beyond | metamorphosis |
| micro- | small | microscope |
| mono- | one | monosaccharide |
| morph-, morpho- | form or shape | morphology |
| multi- | many | multicellular |
| myc-, myco- | fungus | mycology |
| necr-, necro- | death | necrosis |
| neur-, neuro- | nerve | neuron |
| oligo- | few | oligosaccharide |
| oo-, ovo- | egg | oocyte |
| osteo- | bone | osteocyte |
| paleo- | ancient | paleontology |
| peri- | around | pericardium |
| phag-, phago- | eating | phagocytosis |
| photo- | light | photosynthesis |
| phyll- | leaf | chlorophyll |
| phyto-, -phyte | plant | epiphyte |
| pino- | drinking | pinocytosis |
| poly- | many | polysaccharide |
| pseudo- | false | pseudopod |
| rhiz-, rhizo- | root | rhizoid |
| -scope, -scopy | viewing or examining | microscope |
| soma-, somato- | body | somatic |
| -some | body | chromosome |
| therm-, thermo- | heat | thermometer |
| trans- | across | transmembrane |
| tri- | three | triglyceride |
| troph- | nourishment or feeding | heterotroph |
| uni- | one | unicellular |
| vor- | eating | herbivore |
| xero- | dry | xerophyte |
| zoo-, zoa- | animal | zoology |
Pairs that are easy to mix up
- Inter- / intra-: between / within. Intercellular means between cells; intracellular means within a cell.
- Endo- / exo-: within / outside. In biology, endocytosis and exocytosis name particular membrane processes, not simply locations.
- Hyper- / hypo- / iso-: greater / less / equal. In tonicity, always identify what is being compared.
- -itis: inflammation, which is not the same as infection. Avoid treating a word ending as a diagnosis.
Use the list with the worksheet
The Prefix-Suffix Worksheet asks students to interpret terms using a list like this one. Teacher note: its thermometer example should say measures temperature, not measures heat; its “protozoa” wording is a legacy grouping, not a single modern taxonomic unit. Preview the questions before assigning them. No verified answer key for that legacy worksheet is supplied here.
The example column identifies terms in which a form occurs; it does not provide a full definition of each term. For example, a chromosome contains DNA and associated proteins; “body” alone does not explain its structure or function.
The original notebook download contains older spellings and simplified entries, including -itis as “infection.” Use the clarified table on this page and discuss the difference before sharing that file unchanged. This core table focuses on common forms rather than reproducing every historical Latin entry.
Learn, then apply
- Scientific root words lesson — turn a word-part clue into a complete explanation.
- Classification of living things — distinguish a scientific name from a word’s literal meaning.
- Cell Parts — connect cell terms to structures and functions.
- Biology class notes — return to the existing notes directory.
Sources and further reading
NLM MedlinePlus word-part reference supports the meaning distinctions above. For the processes themselves, see OpenStax: bulk transport. Neither source is presented as the author of the legacy Word worksheet.