oncology

noun

on·​col·​o·​gy än-ˈkä-lə-jē 

äŋ-

: a branch of medicine concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and study of cancer

oncological

ˌäŋ-kə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

or oncologic

ˌäŋ-kə-ˈlä-jik 

oncologist

än-ˈkä-lə-jist 

äŋ-

noun

Examples of oncology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Research commissioned by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) found that 340B hospitals charged commercial insurers and cash-paying patients a median of nearly 400% more than what the hospitals paid for oncology drugs. — Ted Okon, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026

Another notable win was in Ohio, where oncology nurse practitioner Kristina Knickerbocker flipped a Republican House seat. — Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026

An umbrella review of global nurse burnout research found oncology nurses reporting the highest depersonalization rates of any specialty studied. — Annette Logan-Parker, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Murray rocked a royal rewear of his Prince Charming costume from the teen rom com, escorting his wife Sarah Roemer to a prom at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County oncology department. — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

onco- + -logy

First Known Use

circa 1857, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for oncology

• anthology
• apology
• astrology
• biology
• christology
• chronology
• conchology
• cosmology
• cryptology
• cytology
• doxology
• ecology

Kids Definition

oncology

noun

on·​col·​o·​gy än-ˈkäl-ə-jē 

: a branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of tumors

Medical Definition

oncology

noun

on·​col·​o·​gy än-ˈkäl-ə-jē, äŋ- 

plural oncologies

: a branch of medicine concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and study of cancer

oncological

ˌäŋ-kə-ˈläj-i-kəl 

adjective

also oncologic

-ik