melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə-tə 

1

: a tumor containing dark pigment

2

: a highly malignant tumor that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely

Examples of melanoma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Like the vaccine that helped Blechner, Merck and Moderna’s melanoma treatment is personalized, meaning an individual patient’s tumor cells are used to engineer a highly specific immune response. —Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026

McEntire was a stepmother to Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband, who died in August 2025, years after being diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer. —Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026

Some common types of cancer include melanoma and advanced breast cancer. —Dana Taylor, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

However, health issues arose in 2021 when he was diagnosed with melanoma for the first time. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

melan- (in melanosis, melanotic) + -oma

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing melanoma

• malignant melanoma

Rhymes for melanoma

• ambystoma
• atheroma
• carcinoma
• coloboma
• granuloma
• haematoma
• hamartoma
• hemangioma
• hematoma
• hepatoma
• hybridoma
• myeloma

Kids Definition

melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə 

: a usually malignant tumor containing dark pigment

Medical Definition

melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə 

plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə 

1

: a benign or malignant skin tumor containing dark pigment

2

: a tumor of high malignancy that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely

called also malignant melanoma, melanocarcinoma, melanoepithelioma, melanosarcoma