melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə-tə 

1

: a tumor containing dark pigment

2

: a highly malignant tumor that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely

Examples of melanoma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rosemary died when Freddie was 10 The mother of three was first diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer, when Freddie was 4 years old. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024

Certain cancers, such as multiple myeloma, leukemia, and melanoma, disperse fragments of immune proteins into the bloodstream that can block glomeruli. —Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

Nivolumab, sold under the brand name Opdivo, has been approved by the FDA to be included in treatment regimens for many other types of cancer, including small cell lung cancer, melanoma and urothelial carcinoma. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024

Mural Oncology is positioned to address large unmet medical needs in PROC and mucosal melanoma, two indications with limited therapeutic options. —Joe Cornell, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

melan- (in melanosis, melanotic) + -oma

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing melanoma

• malignant melanoma

Kids Definition

melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə 

: a usually malignant tumor containing dark pigment

Medical Definition

melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə 

1

: a benign or malignant skin tumor containing dark pigment

2

: a tumor of high malignancy that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely

called also malignant melanoma, melanocarcinoma, melanoepithelioma, melanosarcoma