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The suffix –oidea means “resembling” or “like.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in the names of zoological classes.

The suffix –oidea comes from Greek –�DZ𾱻�ŧ��, from ��î��Dz�, meaning “form.”

What are variants of –oidea?

The singular form of –oidea used in many scientific and technical terms is –oid, as in cytoid. Want to know more? Read our 51�Թ�s That Use article on –oid.

One example of a scientific term that features the suffix –oidea is Cystoidea, an extinct class of sea creatures similar to crinoids.

The cyst– part of the word means “cyst,” a scientific term for a “bag” or “pouch.” The –oidea part of the word means “resembling.” Cystoidea literally means “bag-like.”

What are some words that use the suffix –oidea?

• Axioidea
• Geomyoidea
• Helicoidea
• Hydroidea
• Hyloidea

What are some other forms that –oidea may be commonly confused with?

• -ea
• -ode
• -oic

The combining form hylo– means “wood.” With this in mind, what does the scientific term Hyloidea literally mean?