What does amphi- mean in medical terms?

amphi-

Meaning: both sides, double, around

Type: Prefix

A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what amphi- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.

Example words using amphi-

amphiphilic
amphi- (both) + phil (loving) + ic (relating to) = having both water-attracting and fat-attracting parts
amphiarthrosis
amphi- (on both sides) + arthr (joint) + osis (condition) = a slightly movable joint

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.