What does demi- mean in medical terms?

demi-

Meaning: half

Type: Prefix

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

Example words using demi-

demifacet
demi- (half) + facet (a small smooth surface) = half of a joint facet
demilune
demi- (half) + lune (moon) = a crescent-shaped, half-moon 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.