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What does counter- mean in medical terms?
counter-
Meaning: against, opposite
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what counter- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using counter-
counterirritant
counter- (against) + irritant (something that irritates) = an agent that produces a mild irritation intended to relieve another irritation
counter- (against) + irritant (something that irritates) = an agent that produces a mild irritation intended to relieve another irritation
counterpulsation
counter- (opposite) + pulsation (beating) = pumping timed opposite to the heartbeat
counter- (opposite) + pulsation (beating) = pumping timed opposite to the heartbeat
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.