-iatry

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.

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

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