Medical Terminology Prefixes

Prefixes 1

100

Means without, negative

a-, an-, in-

200

away from

Ab-

300

to or toward

ad-, ac-, as-, at-

400

before, in front

ante-

500

against bacteria

against indication

anti-, ant-, ob-

contra-

Prefixes 2

100

bad, difficult

dys-

200

out, out from (to cut out)

e-, ex-

300

outside 

ex: outside of the body

ect-, exo-, extra-

400

in, on

ex: in a capsule

en-

500

within

ex: visualization within

end-, endo-

Prefixes 3

100

with, together

ex: born with

co-, com-, con-

200

down from

de-

300

right

dextr-

400

through

dia-

500

apart

dis-

Prefixes 4

100

upon

epi-

200

good

eu-

300

half

hemi-, semi-,

400

with, together

ex: working together

syn-, sym-

500

fast

tachy-

Prefixes 5

100

two or life

bi-, bio

200

short

brachy-

300

slow

brady-

400

hundred

cent-

500

around

circum-