SEER Training Modules
Suffix
A true suffix refers to a syllable or a group of syllables attached to the end of a word root (or stem) to modify the meaning of the word root. By adding a suffix to a word root, one may change the meaning of a word, or merely change its grammatical function, i.e., create a noun or an adjective. Following are a few medical terms which commonly used suffixes.
| Medical Term | Suffix | Root Definition |
|---|---|---|
| cuboid | -oid | like, resembling, in the front of |
| glucose | -ose | composed of carbohydrate |
| dermatitis | -itis | inflammation of |
| arthrosis | -osis | condition of |
| hemolysis | -lysis | breakdown, destruction of |
| cytology | -ology | study of |
Click here for an exercise on suffixes.
