What does chem mean in medical terms?
chem
Meaning: chemical
Type: Word root · Body system: Whole Body & General Terms
A word root is the core of a word; prefixes and suffixes attach around it. On this page: what chem means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using chem
chemistry
chem (chemical) + -istry (science of) = the science of chemicals and their reactions
chem (chemical) + -istry (science of) = the science of chemicals and their reactions
biochemistry
bio- (life) + chem (chemical) + -istry (science of) = the science of chemicals in living things
bio- (life) + chem (chemical) + -istry (science of) = the science of chemicals in living things
chemotherapy
chem (chemical) + therapy (treatment) = treatment using chemical agents (definitional)
chem (chemical) + therapy (treatment) = treatment using chemical agents (definitional)
More Whole Body & General Terms roots
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.