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 a large clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Shield test made by Guardant Health detected 83 percent case of colon cancer, but only 13 percent of advanced precancerous lesions.
—
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Stool tests can also pick up signs of precancerous polyps, and if a stool test is positive, it must be followed up with a colonoscopy, which provides an opportunity for prevention, according to the American Cancer Society.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
Adults with a history of precancerous colon polyps (adenomas) had gut bacteria that remained different from people who’d never had polyps, and some patterns resembled those seen in colorectal cancer.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 27 May 2026
That's because of their lower sensitivity for detecting both advanced precancerous lesions and early-stage cancers.
—Amber Brenza, Health, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for precancerous
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The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
Stool tests can also pick up signs of precancerous polyps, and if a stool test is positive, it must be followed up with a colonoscopy, which provides an opportunity for prevention, according to the American Cancer Society.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 27 May 2026
Adults with a history of precancerous colon polyps (adenomas) had gut bacteria that remained different from people who’d never had polyps, and some patterns resembled those seen in colorectal cancer.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 27 May 2026
That's because of their lower sensitivity for detecting both advanced precancerous lesions and early-stage cancers.
—Amber Brenza, Health, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for precancerous
Cite this Entry
“Precancerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precancerous. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
precancerous
adjective
pre·can·cer·ous
-ˈkan(t)s-(ə-)rəs
: tending to become cancerous : premalignant
a precancerous lesion
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