carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
plural carcinomas also carcinomata ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-tə How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin
carcinomatous adjective

Examples of carcinoma in a Sentence

four deaths attributable to carcinoma
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Last September, the FDA granted orphan drug status to its treatment for neuroendocrine carcinoma, a designation which helps drug companies working on potentially life-saving drugs, where treatments are lacking, get to market more efficiently. Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025 The development of a gene classifier that strongly predicts the risk of invasive breast cancer for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), otherwise known as Stage 0, which often leaves too many patients wondering if the noninvasive cells known as DCIS will progress to breast cancer. Kris Holt, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024 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 See All Example Sentences for carcinoma

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek karkinōma cancer, from karkinos

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carcinoma was in 1601

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Carcinoma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carcinoma. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

carcinoma

noun
car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
plural carcinomas or carcinomata -mət-ə How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
plural carcinomas also carcinomata -mət-ə How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin compare sarcoma
carcinomatous adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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