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

Malignant tumors are usually either squamous cell carcinoma, fibrosarcoma, melanoma, or other such as an osteosarcoma. —Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 11 May 2025

Clear cell renal carcinoma gets its name from how the cancer cells appear under a microscope, the National Cancer Institute explains. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 7 May 2025

Clear cell renal carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 7 May 2025

Thurston opened up about her life after being diagnosed with Stage 3 triple-positive ductal carcinoma in February. —Lauryn Overhultz, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025

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