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What does in- mean in medical terms?
in-
Meaning: not; in, into, inside
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what in- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using in-
inactive
in- (not) + active (acting) = not active
in- (not) + active (acting) = not active
incontinence
in- (not) + continence (control) = lack of control over urination or bowel movements
in- (not) + continence (control) = lack of control over urination or bowel movements
incision
in- (into) + cis (to cut) + ion (action) = a cut made into tissue
in- (into) + cis (to cut) + ion (action) = a cut made into tissue
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.