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

Encouraging results in melanoma are why shares are up almost four-fold since mid-August. — Kevin Stankiewicz,matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

Mice receiving the higher-density vaccine were less likely to develop tumors after exposure to melanoma cells carrying the same antigen. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026

After weeks of experiencing blurry vision and seeing dark spots in his right eye, the North Carolina man was diagnosed with ocular melanoma in 2016, per WBTV. — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2026

The study involved 1,137 patients diagnosed with high risk melanoma, with 757 given Intismeran, the personalized mRNA vaccine, combined with the immunotherapy Keytruda. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 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