carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə 

plural carcinomas also carcinomata ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-tə 

: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin

carcinomatous

ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-təs 

adjective

Examples of carcinoma in a Sentence

four deaths attributable to carcinoma

Recent Examples on the Web

Patel knew that Merkel cell carcinoma responds very well to radiation. —Tory Wegerski, CBS News, 16 May 2026

That's when she was finally given a biopsy and officially diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in situ (stage 0 cancer). —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026

Other reasons include severe endometriosis, gender-affirming surgery, severe menstrual blood loss or uterine, cervical or ovarian carcinoma. —Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 15 May 2026

Tohn said in January 2025, her father found metastatic carcinomas but doctors couldn't determine where the primary cancer in her body was located. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 15 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek karkinōma cancer, from karkinos

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing carcinoma

• squamous cell carcinoma

Rhymes for carcinoma

• ambystoma
• atheroma
• coloboma
• granuloma
• haematoma
• hamartoma
• hemangioma
• hematoma
• hepatoma
• hybridoma
• melanoma
• myeloma

Kids Definition

carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə 

plural carcinomas or carcinomata -mət-ə 

: 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 

plural carcinomas also carcinomata -mət-ə 

: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin compare sarcoma

carcinomatous

-ˈō-mət-əs 

adjective