What does homeo- mean in medical terms?

homeo-

Meaning: same, similar, unchanged

Type: Prefix

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

Example words using homeo-

homeostasis
homeo- (unchanging) + stasis (a standing still) = maintenance of a stable internal state
homeothermic
homeo- (same) + therm (heat) + ic (relating to) = maintaining a constant body temperature

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.