What does di- mean in medical terms?

di-

Meaning: two, twice

Type: Prefix

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

Example words using di-

diplegia
di- (two) + plegia (paralysis) = paralysis affecting corresponding parts on both sides of the body
dimorphism
di- (two) + morph (form) + ism (condition) = existing in two distinct forms
dioxide
di- (two) + oxide (a compound with oxygen) = a molecule containing two oxygen atoms

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.