carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə 

plural carcinomas also carcinomata ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-tə 

: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin

carcinomatous

ˌkär-sə-ˈnō-mə-təs 

adjective

Examples of carcinoma in a Sentence

four deaths attributable to carcinoma

Recent Examples on the Web

Her official diagnosis was progesterone and estrogen-positive, HER2-negative invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), which is the most common form of breast cancer, accounting for 80% of all breast cancer diagnoses, according to John Hopkins Medicine. —Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026

This clinical trial is targeting clear cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common kind of kidney cancer. —Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026

In 2012, the actor was at the peak of his career as a regular on NBC’s Parenthood, with a child of his own on the way, when his father, Dave Shepard, was diagnosed with small-cell carcinoma. —Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026

Since his initial metastatic pheochromocytoma of the liver diagnosis in 2021, which has changed to adrenocortical carcinoma and moved to different parts of Gilbert’s body, the musician has shared every step of his arduous journey. —Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek karkinōma cancer, from karkinos

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing carcinoma

• squamous cell carcinoma

Rhymes for carcinoma

• ambystoma
• atheroma
• coloboma
• granuloma
• haematoma
• hamartoma
• hemangioma
• hematoma
• hepatoma
• hybridoma
• melanoma
• myeloma

Kids Definition

carcinoma

noun

car·​ci·​no·​ma ˌkärs-ᵊn-ˈō-mə 

plural carcinomas or carcinomata -mət-ə 

: 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 

plural carcinomas also carcinomata -mət-ə 

: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin compare sarcoma

carcinomatous

-ˈō-mət-əs 

adjective