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)
Synonyms of carcinomanext
: 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.
Moderate coffee intake has also been associated with reduced risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma – even a lower overall mortality. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026 If left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma may grow deeper into the skin, causing painful symptoms and metastasizing to other parts of the body. Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026 Coulier was diagnosed with P16 squamous carcinoma, a type of head and neck cancer, when doctors noticed a flare-up on the base of his tongue during a routine check-up and PET scan. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026 Interferon-alpha is already being used to treat conditions like chronic hepatitis B and C, hairy cell leukemia, Kaposi sarcoma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, renal cell carcinoma, melanomas and genital warts. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 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 22 Feb. 2026.

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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