Name: _________________________________________________ Date: ___________ Class: ____________
Important Prefixes and Suffixes in Science
Often the vocabulary you are expected to know in the science classroom can be overwhelming. Knowledge of
common prefixes, roots, and suffixes can give you clues to the meaning of an unfamiliar word and help make
learning new words easier.
Example: dermatologist
derm: skin
-logy: study of
-ist: someone who practices or deals with something
Use the chart found on book pages 840-842 to determine the meaning of a prefix or suffix and give an
example of a word in which these word roots are used. Try to use an example you are familiar with. This may
require you to think of an example on your own and NOT copy from the book! An asterisk * indicates a
prefix/suffix that is not found on the chart. Do your best to guess at the definition and example. Good Luck.
Prefix/Suffix
Definition
Example
a-
not, without
asymmetrical
anti-
against
antibiotic
auto-
self, same, automatic
autotrophic, automobile
bi-
two
bivalve, bicycle
bio-
life
biology
ceph-
head
cephalothoracic
chloro-
green
chlorophyll
circ-
around
circulatory, circle
derm-
skin
dermatologist
di-
two
diploid
ecto-
outer, outside
ectoderm
endo-
inner, inside
endoskeleton
exo-
outside of
exoskeleton
gastro-
stomach
gastropod
gen-
type
genotype
hemi-
half
hemisphere
hetero-
different
heterozygous, heterosexual
homeo-
the same
homeostasis, homosexual
hydro-
water
hydrophones, hydrophobic
hyper-
above
hypertension
hypo-
below
hypotension
inter-
between, among
interbreed
intra-
within
intracellular
iso-
equal
isogenic
-ist
someone who practices or deals
with something
biologist
* -itis
having trouble with
sinusitis
* -less
without
useless
-logy
study of
biology, zoology
macro-
large
macromolecule
meta-
change
metamorphosis
micro-
small
microscope
mono-
one, single
monoploid
morph-
form, shape
morphology
multi-
many
multitask, multiply
photo-
light
photosynthesis
poly-
many
polypeptide, polymorphic
* post-
after
postmortem
pre-
before
prediction, preseason
semi-
partially
semi permeable, semi-pro
sub
under
submarine; subterranian
* tri-
three
tricycle
* uni-
one
unicycle; unicellular
* zoo-
animal
zoologist, zoology