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• hypo
  hypo

  noun

  a hypodermic syringe or injection.
• hypo-
  hypo-

  a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “under” (hypostasis ); on this model used, especially as opposed to hyper-, in the formation of compound words (hypothyroid ).
• Hypo-
  Hypo-

  prefix

  indicating a plagal mode in music
• hypo–
  hypo–

  A prefix that means “beneath“ or “below,” as in hypodermic, below the skin. It also means “less than normal,” especially in medical terms like hypoglycemia. In the names of chemical compounds, it means “at the lowest state of oxidation,” as in sodium hypochlorite.

hypo

¹ American  

[hahy-poh] / ˈhaɪ poʊ /

noun

hypos plural

1. a hypodermic syringe or injection.

2. a stimulus or boost.

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verb (used with object)

1. to administer a hypodermic injection to.

2. to stimulate by or as if by administering a hypodermic injection.

3. to increase, boost, or augment.

   to hypo the car's power by installing a bigger engine.

hypo ² American  

[hahy-poh] / ˈhaɪ poʊ /

noun

1. sodium thiosulfate.

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hypo ³ American  

[hahy-poh] / ˈhaɪ poʊ /

noun

Archaic.

1. hypochondria.

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hypo- ⁴ American  

1. a prefix appearing in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “under” (hypostasis ); on this model used, especially as opposed to hyper-, in the formation of compound words (hypothyroid ).

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hypo ¹ British  

/ ˈhaɪpəʊ /

noun

1. short for hypodermic syringe

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Hypo- ² British  

prefix

1. indicating a plagal mode in music

   Hypodorian

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hypo ³ British  

/ ˈhaɪpəʊ /

noun

1. another name for sodium thiosulphate, esp when used as a fixer in photographic developing

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hypo- ⁴ British  

prefix

1. under, beneath, or below

   hypodermic

2. lower; at a lower point

   hypogastrium

3. less than

   hypoploid

4. (in medicine) denoting a deficiency or an abnormally low level

   hypothyroid

   hypoglycaemia

5. incomplete or partial

   hypoplasia

6. indicating that a chemical compound contains an element in a lower oxidation state than usual

   hypochlorous acid

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hypo– Scientific  

1. A prefix that means “beneath“ or “below,” as in hypodermic, below the skin. It also means “less than normal,” especially in medical terms like hypoglycemia. In the names of chemical compounds, it means “at the lowest state of oxidation,” as in sodium hypochlorite.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• hypos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of hypo¹

First recorded in 1900–05; by shortening of hypodermic; sense “stimulate” perhaps by association with hype ¹; see -o

Origin of hypo²

First recorded in 1855–60; shortening of hyposulfite

Origin of hypo³

First recorded in 1700–10; by shortening

Origin of hypo-⁴

< Greek, combining form of hypó under (preposition), below (adv.); cognate with Latin sub ( see sub-); cf. up

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hypo hypo- hypos

If your levels drop to low it can lead to a hypo, which can involved feeling shaky and disorientated.

From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2023

Lynch had been tracking discoveries about a layer of wet sediment, small stones and tiny creatures just below the streambed called the hyporheic zone—a term from the Greek hypo, meaning “under,” and rheos, meaning “flow.”

From Scientific American ● Apr. 1, 2022

I use that hypo to highlight the real issue here, that is dull parents need to be taught how how to parent.

From New York Times ● Dec. 19, 2014

Wynn tosses him another broccoli hypo, asking whether the government has the power to mandate the serving of broccoli to the unwilling.

From Slate ● May 10, 2011

If you've read about hyper and hypo on page 102, you may wonder whether there's such a word as hypobole.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

If either the hypo- or hyper- condition goes to excess, the cell’s functions become compromised, and the cell may be destroyed.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

When the body cannot maintain this level, a person will experience hypo- or hypercalcemia.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

If more than two be known, the one inferior in oxygen content has the prefix hypo- and the termination -ous, and the one superior in oxygen content has the prefix per- and the termination -ic.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various

Of course both in hypo- and in hyper- the vowel is short in Greek, so that here at least the strange lengthening cannot be ascribed to the Grecians.

From Society for Pure English Tract 4 The Pronunciation of English Words Derived from the Latin by Sargeaunt, John

Thus the prefix per- signifies an acid still richer in oxygen; the prefix hypo- signifies one with less oxygen.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William

Even with the best management, hypos - when blood sugar gets too low - can occur regularly and Nash estimates she has two a week.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2017

Gallifa watched in tight-lipped silence as the corpsmen administered hypos and set the new cots end to end in the already overcrowded sickbay.

From The Unprotected Species by Sturgis, Melvin

Well, sir, I had to give her three hypos before I could take her along.

From Out of the Ashes by Mumford, Ethel Watts