Biology Prefixes and Suffixes: phago- or phag-

Macrophage Engulfing Bacteria
This computer artwork depicts phagocytosis as a macrophage white blood cell engulfs bacteria (orange). The pathogens are broken down and destroyed once they have been engulfed, and the remaining parts are ejected (far right) by the cell. Credit: DAVID MACK/Science Photo Library/Getty Images

Biology Prefixes and Suffixes: (phago- or phag-)


The prefix (phago- or phag-) means to eat, consume, or destroy. It is derived from the Greek phagein, which means to consume. Related suffixes include: (-phagia), (-phage), and (-phagy).


Phage (phag-e) - a virus that infects and destroys bacteria, also called a bacteriophage.

Phagocyte (phago-cyte) - a cell, like a white blood cell, that engulfs and digests waste materials and microorganisms.

Phagocytosis (phago-cyt-osis) - the process of engulfing and destroying microbes, such as bacteria, or foreign particles by phagocytes.

Phagodynamometer (phago-dynamo-meter) - an instrument used to measure the force required to chew various food types.

Phagology (phago-logy) - the study of food consumption and eating habits. Examples include the fields of dietetics and nutrition science.

Phagolysis (phago-lysis) - the destruction of a phagocyte.

Phagolysosome (phago-lysosome) - a vesicle within a cell that is formed from the fusion of a lysosome (digestive enzyme containing sac) with a phagosome. The enzymes digest material obtained through phagocytosis.

Phagomania (phago-mania) - a condition characterized by the compulsive desire to eat.

Phagophobia (phago-phobia) - an irrational fear of swallowing, typically brought on by anxiety.

Phagosome (phago-some) - a vesicle or vacuole in a cell's cytoplasm that contains material obtained from phagocytosis.

Phagotherapy (phago-therapy) - the treatment of certain bacterial infections with bacteriophages (viruses that destroy bacteria).

Phagotroph (phago-troph) - an organism that acquires nutrients by phagocytosis (engulfing and digesting organic matter).