oropharyngeal

adjective

oro·​pha·​ryn·​geal ˌȯr-ə-ˌfer-ən-ˈjē-əl 

-ˌfa-rən-, 

-fə-ˈrin-j(ē-)əl 

1

: of or relating to the oropharynx

2

: of or relating to the mouth and pharynx

Examples of oropharyngeal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Iowa has the highest rate of oropharyngeal cancer in the country, which affects the middle part of the throat, and is often caused by HPV. — Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register, 22 Jan. 2026

In women, taking multivitamins did not seem to affect the risk of developing cancer, except for oropharyngeal cancer (cancer of the throat), which increased by about 46%. — Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 27 May 2026

The incidence and mortality of oropharyngeal cancer have grown over the past three decades, particularly because of increases in HPV. — Jillian Taylor, StateImpact, 20 Jan. 2026

Cervical cancer may show up when people are in their 30s or 40s, but oropharyngeal cancers are mostly diagnosed when people are in their 50s or 60s, the researchers warn. — Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for oropharyngeal

• endothelial
• epiphyseal
• hypophyseal
• metaphyseal
• participial
• diarrheal
• diarrhoeal
• gonorrheal
• gonorrhoeal
• laryngeal
• meningeal
• mycelial

Medical Definition

oropharyngeal

adjective

oro·​pha·​ryn·​geal -ˌfar-ən-ˈjē-əl  -fə-ˈrin-j(ē-)əl 

1

: of or relating to the oropharynx

2

: of or relating to the mouth and pharynx