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What does semi- mean in medical terms?
semi-
Meaning: half, partially
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what semi- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using semi-
semicircular
semi- (half) + circular (round) = shaped like half a circle
semi- (half) + circular (round) = shaped like half a circle
semipermeable
semi- (partially) + permeable (able to be passed through) = allowing only some substances to pass through
semi- (partially) + permeable (able to be passed through) = allowing only some substances to pass through
semilunar
semi- (half) + lunar (relating to the moon) = shaped like a half moon
semi- (half) + lunar (relating to the moon) = shaped like a half moon
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.