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

Among the deadliest forms of skin cancer, melanoma starts in melanocytes, the cells that give the skin its color. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

These peptides activate melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. — Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2026

His team examined the DNA sequences of melanocytes, skin cells that can turn into moles, melanoma or other cancers. — Jaimie Ding, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026

After making melanin, the melanocytes put it into packages called melanosomes, which are then transferred into the skin cells. — Sierra Leone Starks, Allure, 16 July 2026

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
• chalcopyrite
• cristobalite
• crocidolite
• diatomite

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