precancerous
adjective
pre·can·cer·ous
(ˌ)prē-ˈkan(t)s-rəs 
-ˈkan(t)-sə-
: tending to become cancerous
a precancerous lesion
Examples of precancerous in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In many ways, the online community has helped support me through some of my darkest days—like when doctors found precancerous cells on my tongue 14-months after the first surgery.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025
Screening allows for the detection of precancerous polyps and early-stage cancers that might not yet show symptoms.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
For those eligible for health screenings like a colonoscopy, physicians could catch and remove precancerous polyps in addition to checking for cancer already present.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 9 May 2025
The benefit of the colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy over the CT colonography is that if a precancerous polyp is seen, it could be removed during the procedure to prevent it from developing into cancer in the future.
—Katia Hetter, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precancerous
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.
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025
Screening allows for the detection of precancerous polyps and early-stage cancers that might not yet show symptoms.
—Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
For those eligible for health screenings like a colonoscopy, physicians could catch and remove precancerous polyps in addition to checking for cancer already present.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 9 May 2025
The benefit of the colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy over the CT colonography is that if a precancerous polyp is seen, it could be removed during the procedure to prevent it from developing into cancer in the future.
—Katia Hetter, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for precancerous
Cite this Entry
“Precancerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precancerous. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
precancerous
adjective
pre·can·cer·ous
-ˈkan(t)s-(ə-)rəs
: tending to become cancerous : premalignant
a precancerous lesion
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share