DEFINITION of -graphy

  1. forms nouns: graph--y - recording of an organ’s activity
  2. forms nouns: graph--y - descriptive treatise on a subject In medical terminology, -graphy denotes a diagnostic or imaging procedure in which data, images, or tracings of a body structure or function are produced (e.g., radiography, angiography, echocardiography). It can also refer to the product of that procedure, such as the full written or visual record or description generated. Clinically, -graphy terms usually imply a technique or modality (X‑ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, endoscopy with contrast, etc.) used to visualize anatomy or physiology for diagnosis or monitoring. Outside strictly medical usage, -graphy may denote a field or style of writing/representation, as in cardiography (recording heart activity) versus choreography (writing of dances) in broader English.globalrph

ETYMOLOGY of -graphy

-graphy comes from greek -graphia meaning “writing, drawing, description,” from graphein “to write, draw, scratch,” via Latin -graphia and French -graphie into English. The underlying Proto-Indo-European root relates to “scratching/carving,” reflecting the original act of inscribing marks as writing.


RELATED TERMS to -graphy

SuffixCore meaningExample termWhat it names
-graphyProcess of recording/imaging/descriptionwikipedia+1AngiographyImaging procedure of vesselswikipedia+1
-graphInstrument that recordswikipedia ​ElectrocardiographMachine that records heart activitywikipedia​
-gramRecord or image producedwikipedia+1ElectrocardiogramTracing/image of heart activitywikipedia+1


Appendix A Prefixes Appendix B Combining Forms Appendix C Suffixes Appendix D Suffix forms