BRCA
noun
ˌbē-(ˌ)är-(ˌ)sē-ˈā 
ˈbra-kə
: either of two tumor suppressor genes that in mutated form tend to be associated with an increased risk of certain cancers and especially breast and ovarian cancers
—often used before another noun
BRCA genes
a BRCA mutation
Examples of BRCA in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
About two years ago, I was diagnosed with the BRCA gene.
—
Terry Terrones, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
Other people are genetically predisposed to developing cancers, for example people who carry mutations in BRCA genes which affect DNA repair, greatly increasing their risk of developing breast, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancers.
—Victoria Forster, Forbes.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Watching Anne face surgery, chemo and radiation prompted Timpf to test for the BRCA gene.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
The third group had not yet been diagnosed with breast cancer, but carried a genetic predisposition, such as the BRCA gene, that put them at high risk for triple-negative cancer.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for BRCA
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Terry Terrones, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
Other people are genetically predisposed to developing cancers, for example people who carry mutations in BRCA genes which affect DNA repair, greatly increasing their risk of developing breast, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate cancers.
—Victoria Forster, Forbes.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Watching Anne face surgery, chemo and radiation prompted Timpf to test for the BRCA gene.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
The third group had not yet been diagnosed with breast cancer, but carried a genetic predisposition, such as the BRCA gene, that put them at high risk for triple-negative cancer.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 11 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for BRCA
Cite this Entry
“BRCA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/BRCA. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
BRCA
noun
: either of two tumor suppressor genes that in mutated form tend to be associated with an increased risk of certain cancers and especially breast and ovarian cancers
—often used before another noun
BRCA genes
a BRCA mutation
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