malignancy

noun

ma·​lig·​nan·​cy mə-ˈlig-nən(t)-sē 

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

Synonyms

• malice
• venom
• hatred
• cruelty

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

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

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

malignancy

noun

ma·​lig·​nan·​cy mə-ˈlig-nən-sē 

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 

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