cyst

¹ American  

[sist] / sɪst /

noun

1. Pathology. a closed, bladderlike sac formed in animal tissues, containing fluid or semifluid matter.

2. a bladder, sac, or vesicle.

3. Botany, Mycology.

   1. a sporelike cell with a resistant, protective wall.

   2. a cell or cavity enclosing reproductive bodies.

4. Zoology.

   1. a sac, usually spherical, surrounding an animal that has passed into a dormant condition.

   2. such a sac plus the contained animal.

   3. a capsule or resistant covering.

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cyst- ² American  

1. variant of cysto-, before a vowel.

   cystectomy.

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-cyst ³ American  

1. variant of cysto-, as final element in a compound word.

   statocyst.

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-cyst ¹ British  

combining form

1. indicating a bladder or sac

   otocyst

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cyst ² British  

/ sɪst /

noun

1. pathol any abnormal membranous sac or blisterlike pouch containing fluid or semisolid material

2. anatomy any normal sac or vesicle in the body

3. a thick-walled protective membrane enclosing a cell, larva, or organism

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cyst Scientific  

/ sĭst /

1. An abnormal membranous sac in the body, containing a gaseous, liquid, or semisolid substance.

2. A small, capsulelike form of certain organisms that develops in response to adverse or extreme conditions. Under adverse conditions, for instance, dinoflagellates form nonmotile resting cysts that fall to the ocean or lake bottom and can remain there for years before reviving. Certain invertebrates, such as the water bear (phylum Tardigrada), also develop cysts.

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cyst Cultural  

1. An abnormal saclike structure that develops in the body and is filled with fluid or semisolid material.

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Usage

What does cyst- mean? The combining form cyst- is a combining form used like a suffix meaning “cyst,” which is a scientific term for a bladder, sac, or vesicle. It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology and pathology. The form cyst- comes from Greek kýstis, meaning “bag,” “pouch,” or “bladder.”What are variants of cyst-?The form cyst- is a variant of cysto-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. A rare variant of cysto- is cysti-, as in cystiform. When used as a suffix, the combining form cyst- becomes -cyst, as in oocyst. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for these forms.

What does -cyst mean? The combining form -cyst is used like a suffix meaning “cyst,” which is a scientific term for a bladder, sac, or vesicle. It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology. The form -cyst comes from Greek kýstis, meaning “bag,” “pouch,” or “bladder.”What are variants of -cyst?When used as a prefix, the combining form -cyst variously becomes cyst-, cysti-, or cysto- (as in cystoma). Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for these forms.

Etymology

Origin of cyst

First recorded in 1705–15; from New Latin cystis, from Greek kýstis “bag, pouch, bladder”; akin to kŷma cyma

Explanation

A cyst is a small growth that forms in the body. That squishy, fluid-filled mass on your calf could be a cyst. The word cyst entered English in the 18th century by way of the Latin word cystis, tracing all the way back to the Greek word kustis, meaning “bladder.” Like your bladder, a cyst is sort of like a small pouch, one that’s typically filled with liquid. Unlike the bladder, however, a cyst is closed, meaning the liquid can’t get out. A cyst is often an abnormal formation in the body, so doctors often remove them.

Example Sentences

She said: "The pain started to become a daily thing after my ovarian cyst ruptured and then my mobility started to be affected and I couldn't work."

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

After having a ruptured cyst, she had a laparoscopy to remove some endometriosis, which eased her symptoms for a while, but she still experiences severe pain during flare-ups.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

I wasn’t born like this; I had an operation in my 20s to remove a harmful cyst.

From Slate • Feb. 22, 2026

Their research shows that every cyst contains multiple parasite subtypes, each performing different biological functions.

From Science Daily • Jan. 27, 2026

I had to have an egg-size cyst removed from my back, which was a relief because Will had started calling me “Humpback.”

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Related Words

• blister
• sac
• sore