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What does -ism mean in medical terms?
-ism
Meaning: condition; process
Type: Suffix
A suffix goes at the very end of a word, after the root. On this page: what -ism means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using -ism
hyperthyroidism
hyper- (excessive) + thyroid + -ism (condition) = condition of excessive thyroid activity
hyper- (excessive) + thyroid + -ism (condition) = condition of excessive thyroid activity
gigantism
gigant (giant) + -ism (condition) = condition of excessive growth
gigant (giant) + -ism (condition) = condition of excessive growth
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.