oncology

noun

on·​col·​o·​gy än-ˈkä-lə-jē 

äŋ-

: a branch of medicine concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and study of cancer

oncological

ˌäŋ-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

or oncologic

ˌäŋ-kə-ˈlä-jik 

oncologist

än-ˈkä-lə-jist 

äŋ-

noun

Examples of oncology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bindra, who leads research efforts in adult and pediatric central nervous system radiation oncology, describes a tumor that defies conventional drug development. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 11 Dec. 2025

The alkaline diet has made waves in the oncology community too, offering false hope to those with cancer. —Charles Trepany, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025

The Miami Dolphins scored big with the little patients at Alex's Place, the pediatric oncology clinic at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. —Lauren Pastrana, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025

The new campus will expand access to specialty and services, including an emergency department, ICU, oncology center and a comprehensive women’s health program, including a labor and delivery unit and children’s services. —Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

onco- + -logy

First Known Use

circa 1857, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for oncology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology

Kids Definition

oncology

noun

on·​col·​o·​gy än-ˈkäl-ə-jē 

: a branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of tumors

Medical Definition

oncology

noun

on·​col·​o·​gy än-ˈkäl-ə-jē, äŋ- 

plural oncologies

: a branch of medicine concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and study of cancer

oncological

ˌäŋ-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

also oncologic

-ik