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)
: 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.
Keaton was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, at 21 years old. Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 15 Oct. 2025 On an August 2024 episode of Pod Meets World, the actress revealed she had been diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025 An estimated 33,600 women will be diagnosed with lobular breast cancer or invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) this year, according to new projections by the American Cancer Society (ACS). Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025 Invasive lobular carcinoma, the second most common breast cancer type, is increasing about 3% each year, more than triple the rate of other breast cancers, the report, published on Tuesday morning, found. Dr. Jamie Parkerson, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025 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 21 Oct. 2025.

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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