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What does pre- mean in medical terms?
pre-
Meaning: before
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what pre- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using pre-
prenatal
pre- (before) + natal (relating to birth) = before birth
pre- (before) + natal (relating to birth) = before birth
premature
pre- (before) + mature (fully developed) = occurring before the expected time of full development
pre- (before) + mature (fully developed) = occurring before the expected time of full development
predisposition
pre- (beforehand) + disposition (a tendency) = a tendency or susceptibility present beforehand
pre- (beforehand) + disposition (a tendency) = a tendency or susceptibility present beforehand
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.