carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
plural carcinomas also carcinomata ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-tə How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
Synonyms of carcinomanext
: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin
carcinomatous adjective

Examples of carcinoma in a Sentence

four deaths attributable to carcinoma
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Arnold said in a May 2025 social media video that he had been diagnosed with advanced-stage clear cell renal carcinoma that had spread to one of his lungs. Reuters wire Service, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026 Coulier was diagnosed with P16 squamous carcinoma, a type of head and neck cancer, when doctors noticed a flare-up on the base of his tongue during a routine check-up and PET scan. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026 Interferon-alpha is already being used to treat conditions like chronic hepatitis B and C, hairy cell leukemia, Kaposi sarcoma, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, renal cell carcinoma, melanomas and genital warts. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 She was diagnosed with Stage 0 skin cancer, or carcinoma in situ, meaning that the cancer was on top of her skin and hadn't spread yet. Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for carcinoma

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek karkinōma cancer, from karkinos

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carcinoma was in 1601

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Carcinoma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carcinoma. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

carcinoma

noun
car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
plural carcinomas or carcinomata -mət-ə How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
: a tumor that consists of epithelial cells and is often fatal if not treated

Medical Definition

carcinoma

noun
car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
plural carcinomas also carcinomata -mət-ə How to pronounce carcinoma (audio)
: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin compare sarcoma
carcinomatous adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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