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 April, the FDA rejected Replimune’s drug candidate for melanoma a second time after an initial rejection in July. —Annika Kim Constantino,angelica Peebles, CNBC, 12 May 2026

The company just had positive readouts from their melanoma trial in January and is expecting Phase 3 results from their non-small cell lung cancer study later this year. —Charlotte Hu, Time, 12 May 2026

For example, Melanotan II can increase the risk of melanoma. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 11 May 2026

Two friends and fellow alumnae of Auburn University in Alabama had, like her, faced ocular melanoma (and were all profiled in PEOPLE in 2018) — and both died. —Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 9 May 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