What does uni- mean in medical terms?

uni-

Meaning: one

Type: Prefix

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

Example words using uni-

unilateral
uni- (one) + lateral (side) = affecting one side only
unicellular
uni- (one) + cellular (relating to a cell) = consisting of a single cell
unipolar
uni- (one) + polar (relating to a pole) = having a single pole or direction

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.