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

For squamous cell carcinoma patients, though, the lines weren’t as clear. —Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025

There are even some rare forms of skin cancer, such as Merkel cell carcinoma and Kaposi sarcoma, that are primarily virus-driven, notes Nghiem. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025

Nearly three years ago, the professional organizer and star of Get Organized with the Home Edit, was diagnosed with stage 2 invasive mammary carcinoma, an aggressive form of breast cancer, in March 2022. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025

Researchers at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) analyzed global trends in four main lung cancer subtypes: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma and large-cell carcinoma. —Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 18 Feb. 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

Rhymes for carcinoma

• ambystoma
• atheroma
• coloboma
• granuloma
• haematoma
• hamartoma
• hemangioma
• hematoma
• hepatoma
• hybridoma
• melanoma
• myeloma

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