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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 ��󲹲���î��, 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 -phage

Closely 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 �������t¶��s That Use articles for the forms.

One example of a term that features the form -phage is bibliophage, a fancy term for a bookworm. A bibliophage is someone who is “an ardent reader.”

The first portion of the word, biblio-, may look familiar. It means “book,” from the Greek ��������í�Dz�. As we have seen, -phage means “a thing that devours.” Bibliophage literally translates to “a thing that devours books.” Yum!

What are some words that use the combining form -phage?

• bacteriophage (using the equivalent form of -phage in French)
• coniophage
• euryphage
• melanophage
• microphage
• macrophage (using the equivalent form of -phage in New Latin)
• mycophage
• osteophage
• xylophage

What are some other forms that -phage may be commonly confused with?

• –facient
• -gamy
• -gnathous
• -pagus
• -phany
• -phasia
• -phile
• -phobia

The combining form xylo- means “wood.” With this in mind, what kind of insect is a xylophage?