mammogram

noun

mam·​mo·​gram ˈma-mə-ˌgram 

: a photograph of the breasts made by X-rays

also : the procedure for producing a mammogram

Examples of mammogram in a Sentence

She went to the hospital for her yearly mammogram.

Recent Examples on the Web

In medicine, this could lead to clearer mammograms and new imaging methods capable of revealing soft tissues without the need for contrast agents. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Nov. 2025

But experts agree that getting a mammogram is perfectly safe while nursing. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 13 Nov. 2025

There are currently established screening methods for various cancers, including mammograms, pap tests, colonoscopies, and tests for the prostate and lungs. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025

Experts believe that misunderstandings about who needs screenings and how often may be part of the reason some women skip mammograms. —Dr. Allyson Heng, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin mamma "breast" + -o- + -gram — more at mamma entry 1

Note: The terms mammogram and mammography were introduced by the American physician and surgeon Nymphus Frederick Hicken (1900-98) in "Mammography: roentgenologic diagnosis of breast tumors by means of contrast media," Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, vol. 64 (1937), pp. 593-603.

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mammogram

• abraham
• anagram
• cablegram
• cofferdam
• dendrogram
• diagram
• diaphragm
• epigram
• hexagram
• histogram
• hologram
• instagram

Medical Definition

mammogram

noun

mam·​mo·​gram ˈmam-ə-ˌgram 

1

: a photograph of the breasts made by X-rays

2

: the procedure for producing a mammogram