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The combining form –poiesis is used like a suffix meaning “making, formation.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

The form –poiesis comes from Greek –��Ǿ�ŧ������, meaning “a making” or “creation,” from the verb ��Ǿ���î��, “to make.” Another descendant of ��Ǿ���î�� is the English word poet. To learn more, check out our entry about poet.

What are variants of –poiesis?

The form –poiesis doesn’t have any variants. However, it is related to the form –poietic, which is used to form adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in –poiesis. Want to know more? Read our 51�Թ�s That Use article about –poietic.

One example of a scientific term that features the form –poiesis is uropoiesis, “the production and excretion of urine.”

As you may have guessed, the form uro– means “urine,” from Greek ��û���Dz�. The form –poiesis means “formation.” Uropoiesis literally translates to “urine formation.”

What are some words that use the combining form –poiesis?

• chymopoiesis
• galactopoiesis
• hematopoiesis (using the equivalent form of –poiesis in Latin)
• hemopoiesis
• leukopoiesis (using the equivalent form of –poiesis in Latin)
• ureapoiesis

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

• -osis
• -polis

The combining form hemo– means “blood.” With this in mind, what does hemopoiesis mean?