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
The researchers will now investigate its efficacy in breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma and other malignancies, and fine tune delivery and dosage methods.
—
New Atlas, 16 Dec. 2025
The new research looked at thousands of medical records to compare melanoma rates in people who used tanning beds and those who did not, and found nearly a threefold increase in the risk of melanoma among tanning bed users.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025
Researchers found that tanning bed users were nearly three times as likely to develop melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer — compared to people who'd never tanned indoors.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 14 Dec. 2025
The study also noted that tanning bed users were more likely to develop melanoma in places that aren’t typically impacted by everyday sun exposure, like the buttocks and lower back, because most tanning bed users tan naked or in their underwear.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Dec. 2025
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New Atlas, 16 Dec. 2025
The new research looked at thousands of medical records to compare melanoma rates in people who used tanning beds and those who did not, and found nearly a threefold increase in the risk of melanoma among tanning bed users.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025
Researchers found that tanning bed users were nearly three times as likely to develop melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer — compared to people who'd never tanned indoors.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 14 Dec. 2025
The study also noted that tanning bed users were more likely to develop melanoma in places that aren’t typically impacted by everyday sun exposure, like the buttocks and lower back, because most tanning bed users tan naked or in their underwear.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melanoma
Cite this Entry
“Melanoma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melanoma. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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