variants or cysti- or cysto-
Synonyms of cyst-next
: bladder
cystitis
: sac
cystocarp

Word History

Etymology

French, from Greek kyst-, kysto-, from kystis

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cyst-.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyst-. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

cyst

noun
1
: a closed pouch or sac of fluid or solid material that develops in the body in some diseased conditions
2
: a covering resembling a cyst or a body (as a spore) with such a covering
cystic
ˈsis-tik
adjective

Medical Definition

cyst

noun
1
: a closed sac having a distinct membrane and developing abnormally in a body cavity or structure
2
: a body resembling a cyst: as
a
: a capsule formed about a minute organism going into a resting or spore stage
also : this capsule with its contents
b
: a resistant cover about a parasite produced by the parasite or the host compare hydatid sense 2a
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