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mal-

Prefix Medical Terminology

Bad, poor, or abnormal.

Example: malnutrition (poor or unbalanced nutrition)

Sources

Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean · MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Fundamentals of Nursing, Chapter 21 Key Terms · OpenStax

Terms built with mal-

malignantCancerous; able to invade tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
malpracticeProfessional negligence: a professional's failure to meet the standard of care, causing injury.

Related terms

intra-Within or inside.
iso-Equal or the same.
juxta-Near or next to.
macro-Large.
mega-, megalo-Large or great.
meso-Middle.
meta-Change, after, or beyond.
micro-Small.

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