malignancy

noun

ma·​lig·​nan·​cy mə-ˈlig-nən(t)-sē How to pronounce malignancy (audio)
plural malignancies
1
: the quality or state of being malignant
2
a
: exhibition (as by a tumor) of malignant qualities : virulence
b
: a malignant tumor

Examples of malignancy in a Sentence

the malignancy of the tumor The test revealed a malignancy in the patient's chest.
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.
There was a vibration and luminosity somewhere out there to Matisse; to Picasso there was a latent malignancy. Christopher C. Gorham september 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025 Doctors prescribe Keytruda for a wide variety of cancers, including malignancies in the lungs, skin, colon, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive organs. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 22 Sep. 2025 For children who received a head CT, the researchers attributed about a quarter of their hematologic malignancies that followed to the radiation exposure. Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 Epstein Barr virus, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus and Human Papilloma Virus are all associated with actually causing malignancy in humans. Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 2 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for malignancy

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of malignancy was in 1601

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Cite this Entry

“Malignancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malignancy. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

malignancy

noun
ma·​lig·​nan·​cy mə-ˈlig-nən-sē How to pronounce malignancy (audio)
plural malignancies
1
: the quality or state of being malignant
2
: a malignant tumor

Medical Definition

malignancy

noun
ma·​lig·​nan·​cy mə-ˈlig-nən-sē How to pronounce malignancy (audio)
plural malignancies
1
: the quality or state of being malignant
2
a
: exhibition (as by a tumor) of malignant qualities : virulence
b
: a malignant tumor

More from Merriam-Webster on malignancy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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