melanoma

noun

mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
plural melanomas also melanomata ˌme-lə-ˈnō-mə-tə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What health & wellness means for you:Sign up for USA TODAY's Keeping It Together newsletter Cena wants to close the 'gender gap' in SPF usage Women are more than twice as likely as men to wear sunscreen, but by age 50, men are at a greater risk of melanoma than women. Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 12 May 2025 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum — who shared in February that her melanoma had spread to her lungs and brain — sat down with Nightline for an interview which aired on Thursday, April 10. Toria Sheffield, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025 This not only includes breast cancers, but also thyroid, melanoma, lymphoma, cervical, ovarian and even lung cancers. Carolyn Bhakta, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025 Some cancers like melanoma, cervical, stomach, myeloma, and bone and joint cancers showed increases only in younger populations. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for melanoma

Word History

Etymology

melan- (in melanosis, melanotic) + -oma

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of melanoma was in 1838

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Melanoma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melanoma. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

melanoma

noun
mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
: a usually malignant tumor containing dark pigment

Medical Definition

melanoma

noun
mel·​a·​no·​ma ˌmel-ə-ˈnō-mə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
plural melanomas also melanomata -mət-ə How to pronounce melanoma (audio)
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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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