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

Innovations in formulation—such as high-purity extracts, dronabinol pills, and cannabinoid pastilles—are expanding therapeutic use across neurology, chronic pain, and oncology. —Robert Hoban, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

But internal records show an increase in wait times for new patients in specialties such as cardiology, gastroenterology and oncology. —David Armstrong, ProPublica, 8 Aug. 2025

Oleg Melnikov — Kamchatka Health Minister — released the footage of the surgery, which was performed at the Kamchatka oncology center in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. —Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 31 July 2025

Moderna staked its entire identity around mRNA, while BioNTech saw it as one piece of a broader portfolio focused on immunology and oncology. —Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 31 July 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