carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə 

plural carcinomas also carcinomata ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-tə 

: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin

carcinomatous

ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-təs 

adjective

Examples of carcinoma in a Sentence

four deaths attributable to carcinoma

Recent Examples on the Web

Squamous cell carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma starts in the squamous cells (cells that line the inside of the bladder). —Steffini Stalos, Health, 25 Jan. 2025

News that she'd been diagnosed with invasive carcinoma grade 3 after finding a lump in her breast in late March. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 20 Dec. 2024

Most bladder cancers are urothelial carcinoma, also known as transitional cell carcinoma. —Patty Weasler, Rn, Bsn, Verywell Health, 9 Jan. 2025

But the man's condition worsened, progressing into cirrhosis and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma, also known as liver cancer. —Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 4 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek karkinōma cancer, from karkinos

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing carcinoma

• squamous cell carcinoma

Kids Definition

carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə 

plural carcinomas or carcinomata -mət-ə 

: a tumor that consists of epithelial cells and is often fatal if not treated

Medical Definition

carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə 

plural carcinomas also carcinomata -mət-ə 

: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin compare sarcoma

carcinomatous

-ˈō-mət-əs 

adjective