Negative Prefixes

Question 1

a-, an-
anhydrous (an-HI-drus)

Answer 1

not, without, lack of, absence
def of ex: lacking water (hydr/o)

Question 2

anti-
antiseptic (an-tih-SEP-tik)

Answer 2

against
def of ex: agent use to prevent infection (sepsis)

Question 3

contra-
contraindicated (kon-trah-IN-dih-ka-ted)

Answer 3

against, opposite, opposed
def of ex: against recommendation, not advisable

Question 4

de-
decalcify (de-KAL-sih-fi)

Answer 4

down, without, removal, loss
def of ex: remove calcium(calci/o) from

Question 5

dis-
dissect (dih-SEKT)

Answer 5

absence, removal, separation
def of ex: to separate tissues for anatomic study

Question 6

in-, im-,(used before b,m,p)
incontinent (in-KON-tih-nent)
*may also mean “in” or “into” as in inject, inhale.

Answer 6

not
def of ex: not able to contain or control discharge of excretions

Question 7

non-
noncontributory (non-kon-TRIB-u-tor-e)

Answer 7

not
def of ex: not significant, not adding information to a medical diagnosis

Question 8

un-
uncoordinated (un-ko-OR-dih-na-ted)

Answer 8

not
def of ex: not working together, not coordinated