Root Words Resource
Root Words List #1
Root Definition Example(s)
A - = Not; Without (Acoelomate)
An - = Not; Without (Anaerobic)
Bio - = Life (Biology)
Ab - = Off, From, Away (Aboral)
Ad - / Ac - = To, Toward (Adoral; Accelerate)
-logy =Study of (Biology)
Root Words List #2
Root Definition Example(s)
Arthro- = Jointed (Arthropod)
Ambi- / amphi- = Both; either (Ambidexterity)
Auto- = Self (Autopilot)
Ante- = Before (Antedate)
Anti- = Against (Antidote)
Lip- / Adip- =Fat (Lipid)
Root Words List #3
Root Definition Example(s)
Vit- / Viv- = Life (Vital; Vitalism; Vitamin; Vivarium)
De- = Down; From; Out (Dehydrate; Decapitate; Defecate)
–mer = Part (Polymer; Monomer; isomer)
Mono- = One, only, single (Monomer; mononucleosis; monogamy)
Poly- = Many (Polymer; polydactyl; polyploidy)
Sacchar- = Sugar (Polysaccharide; monosaccharide; Saccharomyces)
Root Words List #4
Root Definition Example(s)
Hem- = Blood (Hemoglobin; Hemophilia)
Hetero- = Other; different (Heterotrophic; Heterogeneous)
Cyt- = Cell (Cytoplasm; Cytokinesis)
Eu- = True (Eukaryote; Euchromatin)
Hyper- = Over, Excessive (Hypertonic; Hypertension)
Hypo- = Under (Hypotonic; Hypotension)
Root Words List #5
Root Definition Example(s)
-ton(ic) = Dissolved solute; tension (Hypertonic; Hypotonic)
Homo - = Same (Homozygous; Homogenized)
-troph = Nourished (Heterotrophic; Autotrophic)
Chlor(o)- = Green (Chlorophyll; Chloroform)
Chrom(o)- = Color (Chromosome; Chromatin)
Photo- = light (Photosynthesis; photograph)
Root Words List #6
Root Definition Example(s)
-al = Having the characteristic of (Caudal; Chromosomal; Hypodermal)
Amyl- = Starch (Amyloplast; Amylase; Amyloid)
-ate = The act of (verb) (Decapitate; Defecate; Agitate)
Cephal- / Capit- = Head (Decapitate; Cephalic; Cephalopod)
Caud- = Tail (Caudal; Caudocephalad; Acaudal)
Bi- / Di- = Two, Double, Both (Bicycle; Bilateral; Diphosphate)
Root Words List #7
Root Definition Example(s)
Chrom(o)(e)- = Color (Chromosome, Chromatid, Chromatography)
Som(o)(e)(at)- / Corp- = Body (Chromosome, Autosomal, Corpse, Corporation)
Genesis- = Beginning; To make (Gametogenesis; Anthropogenesis)
Intra- = Within; inside (Intraspecific; Intranet; Intrathecal)
-itis = Inflammation (Colitis; Arthritis; Tonsillitis)
Inter- = Between; among (Interstate; Interspecific; Interpersonal)
Root Words List #8
Root Definition Example(s)
-al = Having the characteristic of (Caudal; Chromosomal; Hypodermal)
-ate = The act of (verb) (Decapitate; Defecate; Agitate)
-eous / -ious / -ous = nature/quality of, full of, like (Envious, Cautious, Hideous)
Dys- = bad, abnormal, difficult (Dysfunction, Dysentery, Dyslexia)
Dis- = apart, out (Dislocate, Distract, Disassemble)
Ecto- / Exo- = Outside of (Exoskeleton, Ectoplasm, Ectoderm)
Root Words List #9
Root Definition Example(s)
Infra- = below, beneath (Infrared, Infrastructure, Infraspinatus)
Lact- = milk (Lactic, Lactose, Lactation, Lactase)
Omni- = All (Omnivore, Omnipotent, Omnis)
Pan- = All (Pangea, Pandemic, Pandora)
Mast-/mam- = Breast (Mammogram, Mastectomy, Mammal)
Cycl(e)- = Circle; ring (Unicycle, Cyclin, Bicycle)
Root Words List #10
Root Definition Example(s)
Gyn- = Female (Gynecology, Gynecomastia)
-cul(e) = Small; diminutive (Molecule; Miniscule; Ridicule)
Dactyl- = Finger (Pterodactyl; Polydactyl; Pentadactyl)
Herba- = Plant (Herbal; Herbivore; Herbicide)
Cyan- = Blue (Cyanobacteria; Cyanide; Cyanosis)
Contra- = Against (Contraband; Contradict; Contraction)
Root Words List #11
Root Definition Example(s)
Homo- (Latin) = Man; Human (Hominid; Homosocial)
Homo- (Greek) = Same; Alike (Homogenous, Homolgous)
Sapien- (Latin) = Wise (Sapiens; Sapientissimus)
Zo- / Zoa- = animal (Zoology; Zoanthid; Zoophyte)
Pseudo- = False (Pseudopodia; Pseudotumor; Pseudoseizure)
My(o)- = muscle (Myocardial; Myosin; Myelin)
Root Words List #12
Root Definition Example(s)
Oligo- = Few; little (Oligopeptide, Oligonucleotide, Oligodendrocyte)
Olf- = Smell (Olfactory; Olfaction)
Onc- = mass; tumor (Oncology; Oncogene)
Nephro- / Ren- = Kidney (Renal, Nephritis, Nephritic)
Tax- = Arrange; put in order (Taxonomy; Ataxia; Taxonomic)
Derm- = Skin (Hypodermal, Epidermis, Dermatitis)