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What does poly- mean in medical terms?
poly-
Meaning: many, much
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what poly- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using poly-
polyuria
poly- (much) + uria (urine condition) = production of an abnormally large amount of urine
poly- (much) + uria (urine condition) = production of an abnormally large amount of urine
polycythemia
poly- (many) + cyt (cell) + hemia (blood condition) = an increased number of red cells in the blood
poly- (many) + cyt (cell) + hemia (blood condition) = an increased number of red cells in the blood
polyarthritis
poly- (many) + arthr (joint) + itis (inflammation) = inflammation of many joints
poly- (many) + arthr (joint) + itis (inflammation) = inflammation of many joints
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.