melanocyte

noun

me·​la·​no·​cyte mə-ˈla-nə-ˌsīt 

ˈme-lə-nō-

plural melanocytes

: a cell (as of the skin, eye, or hair follicle) that produces melanin

an epidermal melanocyte

The choroid also contains numerous pigment-producing melanocytes that give it a brownish black appearance.

—John Hole

Melanocytes, the body's pigment cells, generally do good, not harm. They give our skin its natural color and, when struck by the sun, churn out additional pigment (or melanin) to darken and protect us.

—Claudia Kalb

The number of Americans diagnosed with melanoma, a cancer of the melanocytes, or pigmented cells of the skin, has increased steadily for decades.

—Gina Kolata

see melanosome compare melanophore

Examples of melanocyte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Remember those pigment-producing cells, the melanocytes? —Amy Eisinger, Allure, 8 May 2024

The color of our hair is created by the pigment-producing cells, called melanocytes, located in each hair follicle. —Amy Eisinger, Allure, 8 May 2024

Causes of Gray Hair Hair follicles contain melanocytes, which are cells that produce pigment and give us our natural hair color. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2024

Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that occurs when the cells that produce pigment to give skin its color (melanocytes), grow out of control, per the American Cancer Society. —Caroline Kee, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

melano- + -cyte

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing melanocyte

• melanocyte-stimulating hormone

Kids Definition

melanocyte

noun

me·​la·​no·​cyte mə-ˈlan-ə-ˌsīt 

ˈmel-ə-nō-

: a body cell (as in the skin) that produces or contains melanin

Medical Definition

melanocyte

noun

me·​la·​no·​cyte mə-ˈlan-ə-ˌsīt  ˈmel-ə-nō- 

: a cell (as of the skin, eye, or hair follicle) that produces melanin see melansome compare melanophore