-iatry

1. a combining form occurring in compound words that have the general sense “healing, medical practice,” with the initial element usually denoting the area treated:

   podiatry; psychiatry.

-iatry

combining form

1. indicating healing or medical treatment Compare -iatrics

   psychiatry

Derived Forms

• -iatric, combining_form:in_adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of -iatry¹

< Greek iātreía healing. See iatro-, -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of -iatry¹

from New Latin -iatria, from Greek iatreia the healing art, from iatros healer, physician

Words That Use -iatry

What does -iatry mean?

The combining form -iatry is used like a suffix meaning “healing; medical practice.” It is occasionally used in medical terms, especially in names of medical disciplines.

The form -iatry comes from Greek iātreía, meaning “healing.”

What are variants of -iatry?

While it doesn’t have any variants, -iatry is related to a number of other combining forms.

The Greek element iātro-, which is the source of iatro-, is a corresponding form of -iatric combined to the beginning of words.

The forms -iatric and -iatrics are specifically composed of -iatry and the suffix -ics, denoting a particular science, art, subject, or activity. The combining form -iatric is used as an adjective form of nouns ending in -iatrics.  A pediatric surgeon is a type of specialist in pediatrics, for instance.

Learn about the specific applications of these forms in our Words That Use articles about iatro-, -iatric, and -iatrics.

Examples of -iatry

An example of a word you may have encountered that features -iatry is psychiatry, “the practice or science of diagnosing and treating mental disorders.”

The form psych- means “psyche” or “psychological,” from Greek psȳchḗ. The form -iatry means “medical practice,” as we have already seen. Psychiatry literally translates to “psychological medical practice” or “psyche healing.”

What are some words that use the combining form -iatry?

• holiatry
• neuropsychiatry
• physiatry
• podiatry

What are some other forms that -iatry may be commonly confused with?

• -ary
• -ity
• -ty

Break it down!

The combining form phys- means “physical” or “physiological.” With this in mind, what does physiatry literally mean?