-lysis

-ly·sis
US, UK/-lɪ.sɪs/

suffix

decomposition or breakdown

Opposite
-genesis
OriginAncient Greek λύσις →
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Meanings

suffix-lysis (noun-forming suffix)
  1. decomposition or breakdown
  2. dissolving
  3. disintegration

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
-genesis

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekλύσις“a loosening”
  2. English-lysis

From Ancient Greek λύσις (lúsis, “a loosening”). Compare lysis.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech -lýza
  • -lýzadecomposition or breakdown
Danish -lyse
  • -lysedecomposition or breakdown
French -lyse
  • -lysedecomposition or breakdown
Greek -λυση
  • -λυση (-lysi)decomposition or breakdown
Irish -alú
  • -alúdecomposition or breakdown
Norwegian Bokmål -lyse
  • -lysedecomposition or breakdown
Polish -liza
  • -lizadecomposition or breakdown
Portuguese -lise
  • -lisedecomposition or breakdown
Spanish -lisis
  • -lisisdecomposition or breakdown
Cite this entry
APA

-lysis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-lysis

MLA

“-lysis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-lysis. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “-lysis,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/-lysis.

Source: -lysis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.