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

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 112,000 new melanomas are likely to be diagnosed in 2026, and 8,510 people are expected to die from the skin cancer variant. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 3 June 2026

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, and having five or more sunburns doubles someone’s risk for melanoma. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026

After about a five-year follow-up, the combo drug was found to reduce the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 49% compared to pembrolizumab alone. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026

Connie Franciosi, 80, noticed a suspicious spot on her skin and was diagnosed with melanoma in 2020. —Allison Aubrey, NPR, 1 June 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