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
While the classification was made over a decade ago, viral posts on social media have claimed that the birth control pill has only just been deemed a human carcinogen.
—
Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
The World Health Organization takes a much stronger stance, warning there is no safe level of alcohol consumption at all and categorizing it as a Group 1 carcinogen—alongside asbestos, radiation and tobacco.
—Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
More than half of blackberry samples contained residue of the pesticide cypermethrin — which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies as a possible human carcinogen.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 11 June 2025
In laboratory and animal studies, these compounds have been shown to decrease inflammation that can damage cells, which increases cancer risk, and inhibit enzymes that activate carcinogens.
—Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for carcinogen
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Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
The World Health Organization takes a much stronger stance, warning there is no safe level of alcohol consumption at all and categorizing it as a Group 1 carcinogen—alongside asbestos, radiation and tobacco.
—Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
More than half of blackberry samples contained residue of the pesticide cypermethrin — which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies as a possible human carcinogen.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 11 June 2025
In laboratory and animal studies, these compounds have been shown to decrease inflammation that can damage cells, which increases cancer risk, and inhibit enzymes that activate carcinogens.
—Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 11 June 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 21 Jul. 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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