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

Merck and Moderna are studying the vaccine in several trials across other tumors, such as non-small cell lung cancer, bladder cancer and renal cell carcinoma. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026

And because of pathology reports that came back, I was informed that all the tissue surrounding that fiber adenoma had invasive carcinoma, and that was not on any of my mammograms. — Madison Sawyer, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

According to Moffitt Cancer Center, basal cell carcinomas sometimes surface as small patches of irritated skin that get dismissed as dryness, or as open, bloody sores that resemble a bad sunburn. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Basal cell carcinomas can also appear as bloody or scabbed-over sores that resemble the aftermath of a bad sunburn. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 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