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

The scientists found that in orange cats' melanocytes – the pigmentation cells – the gene ARHGAP36 was more active, and all had the missing piece of code. —New Atlas, 24 May 2025

These cells, which are called melanocytes, are missing in some areas for humans and animals with the condition. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2025

This is a more aggressive form of skin cancer that develops in melanocytes, the skin cells that produce pigment to give skin its color. —Casey Gallagher, Health, 15 Apr. 2025

And this gene was in turn instructing those melanocytes to produce the lighter features, including the ginger coat. —New Atlas, 24 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

melano- + -cyte

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing melanocyte

• melanocyte-stimulating hormone

Rhymes for melanocyte

• actinolite
• adipocyte
• amphibolite
• anorthosite
• anthophyllite
• aragonite
• carbonatite
• cassiterite
• cristobalite
• crocidolite
• diatomite
• dithionite

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