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• phage
  phage

  noun

  bacteriophage.
• -phage
  -phage

  a combining form meaning “a thing that devours,” used in the formation of compound words, especially the names of phagocytes.

phage

¹ American  

[feyj] / feɪdʒ /

noun

1. bacteriophage.

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-phage ² American  

Also -phag.

1. a combining form meaning “a thing that devours,” used in the formation of compound words, especially the names of phagocytes.

   macrophage.

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-phage ¹ British  

combining form

1. indicating something that eats or consumes something specified

   bacteriophage

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phage ² British  

/ feɪdʒ /

noun

1. short for bacteriophage

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Usage

What does -phage mean? The combining form -phage is used like a suffix meaning “a thing that devours.” It is used in many scientific terms, especially in biology. The form -phage ultimately comes from the Greek phageîn, meaning “to eat, devour.” This Greek root also helps form the word esophagus. Discover the connection at our entry for the word. The word phage, referring to a bacteriophage, is a shortened or independent use of the combining form -phageClosely related to -phage are -phagia, -phagy, and -phagous. Their corresponding form combined to the beginning of words is phago-. Learn more about their specific applications at our Words That Use articles for the forms.

Other Word Forms

• -phagous
  combining form

Etymology

Origin of phage¹

By shortening, or independent use of -phage

Origin of -phage²

Noun use of Greek -phagos -phagous

Example Sentences

In the Nature study, the researchers analyzed another phage genome with the help of a collaborator.

From Science Daily • Feb. 28, 2026

The team envisions pPro-MobV working alongside these engineered phage to strengthen the impact.

From Science Daily • Feb. 18, 2026

Yale researchers recognized that these tools could unlock new possibilities in phage biology and reached out to explore more ambitious applications.

From Science Daily • Jan. 21, 2026

The method also works well with phage genomes that contain repeated sequences or extreme GC content, both of which often complicate DNA assembly.

From Science Daily • Jan. 21, 2026

The fact that I, a phage person, found what he was doing important was reassuring.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson