What does allo- mean in medical terms?
allo-
Meaning: other, different
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what allo- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using allo-
allograft
allo- (other) + graft (transplanted tissue) = a graft from another individual of the same species
allo- (other) + graft (transplanted tissue) = a graft from another individual of the same species
alloimmune
allo- (other) + immune (immune system) = relating to an immune response to antigens from another individual
allo- (other) + immune (immune system) = relating to an immune response to antigens from another individual
allotransplant
allo- (other) + transplant (transferred tissue or organ) = a transplant from another individual of the same species
allo- (other) + transplant (transferred tissue or organ) = a transplant from another individual of the same species
Shortened forms
Charts and notes shorten long terms — see the Medical Abbreviations guide for the short forms you will meet in real records.
Please note: This section teaches the language of medicine — what word parts mean and how terms are built. It is an educational reference, not medical advice. For the meaning of a word in your own medical record, ask the clinician who wrote it.