necro-

1. a combining form meaning “the dead,” “corpse,” “dead tissue,” used in the formation of compound words:

   necrology.

necro-

combining_form

1. indicating death, a dead body, or dead tissue

   necrosis

   necrophagous

   necrology

Word History and Origins

Origin of necro-¹

< Greek nekro-, combining form of nekrós dead person, corpse, (adj.) dead

Word History and Origins

Origin of necro-¹

from Greek nekros corpse

Example Sentences

This isn’t to be confused with Necro, which is intended for anyone who wants a one-night stand with a Decker—the ultimate no-strings-attached app.

From Literature

I’ve always been so disturbed by Necro, and not just because sex makes me nervous.

From Literature

There are no user charges, unlike Necro, which goes for $7.99 a day, which disturbs me because I can’t help but feel as if a human is worth more than eight bucks.

From Literature

I sense there’s something more he wants to say; maybe he wants to crack a joke about how I should sign up for Necro so I don’t die a virgin, as if sex and love are the same thing.

From Literature

He must have thought I was a madman, one of those crazed necro- philiacs who sometimes haunt cemeteries.

From Literature

Words That Use Necro-

What does necro- mean?

Necro- is a combining form used like a prefix variously meaning “the dead,” “corpse,” or “dead tissue.” It is used in technical and scientific terms, including in biology and medicine.

Necro- comes from the Greek nekrós, meaning “dead person, corpse” or “dead.” Similar in meaning and use to necro- is the common combining form thanato–, from the Greek thánatos, “death.”

What are variants of necro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, necro- becomes necr-, as in necrectomy.

Examples of necro- and necr-

One example of a term you may have come across that features the combining form necro- is necromancy,”a method of divination through alleged communication with the dead.” Divination is the practice of trying to see the future, like prophecy.

The first part of the word, necro- means “the dead,” as we know. The -mancy part of the word means “divination,” from the Greek manteía. Necromancy literally translates to “divining (by means of) the dead.”

A term you may have come across that features the combining form necr- is necropsy, also known as an autopsy, “the examination of a body after death.”

The form necr- means “the dead, corpse.” The -opsy portion of the word denotes “a medical examination or inspection,” ultimately from the Greek ópsis. Necropsy literally translates to “looking at a corpse.”

What are some words that use the combining form necro- or necr-?

• necrectomy
• necrobiosis
• necrocytosis
• necrogenic
• necrolatry
• necrology
• necrolysis
• necromania
• necropolis
• necrophobia
• necrophilia (using the equivalent form of necro- in New Latin)
• necrophilous
• necrophagous
• necrosis (from the Greek nékrōsis)
• necrotic (formed from necrosis)
• necrotomy
• necrotroph

What are some other forms that necro- or necr- may be commonly confused with?

• micro-
• narc-
• narco-
• nephr-
• nephro-
• noct-
• nocto-

Break it down!

The combining form -latry means “worship.” With this in mind, what is the practice of necrolatry?