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

In September 2023, Mellencamp shared that she had been diagnosed with her 13th melanoma and had some ups and downs treating it. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024

Your body has mechanisms in place that help to repair that DNA damage—but prolonged and/or excessive sun exposure ups the chances that your cells won’t recover, potentially leading to various types of skin cancers, including melanoma, the most serious kind. —Jessica Chia, SELF, 9 Apr. 2024

Uveal melanoma is a cancer that is relatively rare but deadly and usually affects Caucasians. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

Risk factors for melanoma include having lighter skin color, being exposed to UV light, having many moles, having a family history of melanoma and having a personal history of melanoma or other skin cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. —Mira Cheng, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024

What' In September, Mellencamp Arroyave shared that she had been diagnosed with her 13th melanoma. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024

He was rushed to the hospital and discovered that the melanoma had spread to his brain, lungs and stomach. —Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 15 Feb. 2024

New study finds mRNA vaccine helps battle against melanoma 04:40 Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, with melanoma accounting for only about 1% of skin cancer cases in the U.S. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 14 Dec. 2023

Bennett was diagnosed with melanoma in 2011 after his daughter noticed a suspicious mole on his neck that had changed color. —Erika Edwards, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

melan- (in melanosis, melanotic) + -oma

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing melanoma

• malignant melanoma

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