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What does syn- mean in medical terms?
syn-
Meaning: together, with
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what syn- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using syn-
synapse
syn- (together) + apse (a junction, a clasp) = the junction where two nerve cells meet
syn- (together) + apse (a junction, a clasp) = the junction where two nerve cells meet
syndrome
syn- (together) + drome (a running) = a group of signs and symptoms that run together
syn- (together) + drome (a running) = a group of signs and symptoms that run together
synthesis
syn- (together) + thesis (a placing) = the putting together of parts to form a substance
syn- (together) + thesis (a placing) = the putting together of parts to form a substance
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.