What does post- mean in medical terms?

post-

Meaning: after, behind

Type: Prefix

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

Example words using post-

postnatal
post- (after) + natal (relating to birth) = after birth
postoperative
post- (after) + operative (relating to surgery) = after a surgical operation
posterior
post- (behind) + erior (comparative ending) = situated behind or at the back

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.