oncogenic

adjective

on·​co·​gen·​ic ˌäŋ-kō-ˈje-nik How to pronounce oncogenic (audio)
1
: relating to tumor formation
2
: tending to cause tumors
oncogenicity noun

Examples of oncogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Recurrent damage within cells results in apoptosis, a rescue mechanism preventing oncogenic transformation but also triggering a cascade of events that promote aging and aging-related disorders. Salvatore Viscomi, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023 Senescence is a natural process of replicative arrest that prevents an oncogenic transformation of aberrant cells. Salvatore Viscomi, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023 Viruses and parasites are indeed capable of causing oncogenic infection, whether through their own virulence or as a result of the body’s immunological response. Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 10 Apr. 2011 The oncogenic mutation in the proto-oncogene converts one of the amino acids in the cell, glycine, into cystine. Connor Lynch, Discover Magazine, 26 Oct. 2022 Several strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer, and two vaccines directed against the currently most important oncogenic strains (i.e., the HPV-16 and HPV-18 serotypes) have been developed. Jeanne Lenzer, Discover Magazine, 23 Nov. 2011 Is this a safety measure, to minimize the risk of mutagenesis and oncogenic transformation? David Warmflash, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2016 Scientists can’t fully control where in the body its genes are introduced; Bluebird tried to determine whether its gene had been inserted into an oncogenic location—a place with cancer-causing potential. Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2022 It can also be caused by any number of pathologic or environmental stresses, such as oncogenic (cancer) activation, radiation, inflammation, nutrient deprivation, and exposure to different chemicals. Gabriel A. Silva, Forbes, 1 Feb. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oncogenic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

onco- + -genic

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oncogenic was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near oncogenic

Cite this Entry

“Oncogenic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oncogenic. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

oncogenic

adjective
on·​co·​gen·​ic -ˈjen-ik How to pronounce oncogenic (audio)
variants also oncogenous
1
: relating to tumor formation
2
: tending to cause tumors
an oncogenic virus
oncogenic tars
oncogenically adverb
oncogenicity noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!