The prefix dys- means

• A. Good
• B. Bad
• C. Difficult
• D. Pain

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is what the prefix dys- conveys in medical language. It signals that something is off, abnormal, or not functioning correctly. That broad sense makes it most accurate to say the meaning is “bad.” For example, dyspepsia means bad or difficult digestion, dysplasia refers to abnormal tissue development, and dysuria indicates painful or difficult urination. The sense of “difficult” appears in many related terms, but the prefix itself carries the general impression of abnormality or wrongdoing in function, rather than simply pain. Opposite prefixes like eu- mean “good,” which is not what dys- denotes.