carcinogen
noun
car·cin·o·gen
kär-ˈsi-nə-jən 
ˈkär-sə-nə-ˌjen
ˈkär-sə-nə-ˌjen
: a substance or agent causing cancer
Examples of carcinogen in a Sentence
Cigarette smoke contains known carcinogens.
Recent Examples on the Web
Public health campaigns should clearly communicate alcohol as a carcinogen and challenge the normalization of drinking in youth culture.
—
Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Banned in Europe In addition to being a carcinogen, formaldehyde, a colorless and smelly gas, can cause rashes and can sicken those who breathe it in, according to the FDA.
—Ronnie Cohen, NPR, 8 May 2025
Styrene carcinogens are released during production and use; the environment is polluted because the materials are lightweight and tend to fragment, and wildlife ingests the microplastic particles.
—Curtis Bunn, NBC news, 2 May 2025
The dangers of benzene Benzene is a highly toxic chemical that is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for carcinogen
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Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Banned in Europe In addition to being a carcinogen, formaldehyde, a colorless and smelly gas, can cause rashes and can sicken those who breathe it in, according to the FDA.
—Ronnie Cohen, NPR, 8 May 2025
Styrene carcinogens are released during production and use; the environment is polluted because the materials are lightweight and tend to fragment, and wildlife ingests the microplastic particles.
—Curtis Bunn, NBC news, 2 May 2025
The dangers of benzene Benzene is a highly toxic chemical that is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for carcinogen
Cite this Entry
“Carcinogen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carcinogen. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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Medical Definition
carcinogen
noun
car·cin·o·gen
kär-ˈsin-ə-jən
ˈkärs-ᵊn-ə-ˌjen
ˈkärs-ᵊn-ə-ˌjen
: a substance or agent causing cancer
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