allo-

US/æloʊ-/US/ælə-/

prefix

Nonself; nonself but of the same species.

“allomorph”

Similar
hetero-
Opposite
auto-self-ipsi-
OriginAncient Greek ᾰ̓́λλος (ắllos) ← Proto-Hellenic *ál͏̌l͏̌os ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos →
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Meanings

prefix
  1. biologyNonself; nonself but of the same species.

    allogeneous

    2 more examples

    allorecognition

    alloimmunity

    Synonyms: hetero- · Antonyms: auto-, self-, ipsi-

    1. biologyAlloimmunity; (biology, medicine, transplantation) transplantation of cells or tissues from one person to another.

      alloresponse

      2 more examples

      alloreaction

      alloresponsive

      Synonyms: hetero- · Antonyms: auto-, self-, ipsi-

    2. biologyAn arbitrary member of a heterogenous-but-interrelated group.

      allomorph

      2 more examples

      alloalbumin

      alloidentical

      Synonyms: hetero- · Antonyms: auto-, self-, ipsi-

  2. External, outside, or from a separate location.

    allochory

    2 more examples

    allonomous

    allogenic

    1. biologyHybridization of multiple species.

      allohaploid

      2 more examples

      allopolyploid

      allohexaploid

  3. chemistryIsomeric; especially, of amino acids having two chiral centres, the second diastereoisomer to be discovered or synthesized.

    allolactose

    2 more examples

    allocholane

    allobetulin

    1. chemistrya diastereomer having the same configuration on four neighboring chiral carbon atoms as carbohydrate allose.
  4. Different, distinct, or other with respect to the root.

    allonym

    2 more examples

    allosome

    allocolonial

    1. medicineAbnormal, defective with respect to the root.

      allolalia

      2 more examples

      allochromasia

      allorhythmia

    2. Unconventional, unusual, or unexpected.

      allophone

      2 more examples

      alloparent

      allophane

    3. Changed or modified.

      allobar

      2 more examples

      allohistorical

      alloplasm

    4. chemistrySynthetic, artificial.

      alloprotein

      1 more example

      allopurinol

  5. Variety, heterogeneity.

    allopelagic

    2 more examples

    allochronic

    allocentric

    1. human sciencesAlternative, variant in form.

      allocher

      2 more examples

      allophony

      allograph

    2. chemistryImpure in composition.

      allochromatic

      2 more examples

      allochromatic

      allostratigraphy

  6. ethologyAlloparenting: parenting behaviours between animals who are not parent and child.

    allosuck

    2 more examples

    allocare

    allofather

  7. Not asexual; attracted to others.

    alloerotic

    2 more examples

    alloromantic

    allonormativity

Synonyms & antonyms

prefixNonself; nonself but of the same species.

Similar
hetero-
Opposite
auto-self-ipsi-

prefixAlloimmunity; (biology, medicine, transplantation) transplantation of cells or tissues from one person to another.

Similar
hetero-
Opposite
auto-self-ipsi-

prefixAn arbitrary member of a heterogenous-but-interrelated group.

Similar
hetero-
Opposite
auto-self-ipsi-
Also see
cross-hetero-

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élyos
  3. Proto-Hellenic*ál͏̌l͏̌os
  4. Ancient Greekᾰ̓́λλος (ắllos)
  5. Englishallo-

From Ancient Greek ἀλλο- (allo-), combining form of ἄλλος (állos, “other”), from Proto-Hellenic *ál͏̌l͏̌os, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos. Doublet of else (the inherited Germanic word) and alias (borrowed from Latin).

More words from Ancient Greek, Proto-Hellenic, Proto-Indo-European

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan al·lo-, al·lo-
  • al·lo-different
  • al·lo-isomeric
Irish alla-, alla-
  • alla-different
  • alla-isomeric
Polish alo-, allo-
  • alo-different
  • allo-different
  • alo-isomeric
  • allo-isomeric
Portuguese alo-, alo-
  • alo-different
  • alo-isomeric
Spanish alo-, alo-
  • alo-different
  • alo-isomeric

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with allo-

allahshallowgalaaloecallaValhallamarshmallowfallowmallowtallowcallowhallowTallaghtgiallosallowgallowballow
All rhymes →

Sounds the same

aloe(one pronunciation) Allah
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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