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What does de- mean in medical terms?
de-
Meaning: down, away from, removal, reversal
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what de- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using de-
dehydration
de- (removal) + hydr (water) + ation (process) = loss of water from the body or a substance
de- (removal) + hydr (water) + ation (process) = loss of water from the body or a substance
degeneration
de- (down, reversal) + generation (formation) = deterioration of tissue or function
de- (down, reversal) + generation (formation) = deterioration of tissue or function
decalcification
de- (removal) + calcification (calcium deposit) = loss of calcium from a structure
de- (removal) + calcification (calcium deposit) = loss of calcium from a structure
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.