hecto-

American  

Also hekt-,

1. a combining form meaning “hundred,” used in the formation of compound words.

   hectograph; hectogram.

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hecto- British  

prefix

1.  h.  denoting 100

   hectogram

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Usage

What does hecto- mean? Hecto- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “hundred.” It is occasionally used in technical terms, especially in measurements. Hecto- comes from the Greek hekatón, meaning “hundred,” which is distantly related both to English hundred and Latin centum, “hundred.” Find out more at our entries for cent and hundred. What are variants of hecto-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, hecto- becomes hect-, as in hectare, which uses the equivalent form in French. In some rare instances, hecto- and hect- are spelled with a -k-, becoming hekto- and hekt-.

Etymology

Origin of hecto-

< French, combining form representing Greek hekatón hundred