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 drug, combined with Merck’s Keytruda, met goals in more than 1,100 patients with higher-risk or advanced melanoma. — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026

And with skin cancer rates rising, Moderna and Merck have reported promising results for a new, highly personalized melanoma treatment. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026

Her family says Izzy had a rare type of melanoma and had been undergoing serious treatments for over two years. — Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Ridley said that, after the production of Alien, his eldest brother, Frank, got a terminal diagnosis of melanoma. — Jimmy Chin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 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